Insight in the Phytochemistry of Wild Vegetable Vitex grandifolia Gürke with its Biological and Nutritional Importance – A Review

Abstract

Vitex grandifolia belongs to genus Vitex, which is the largest in the family Lamiaceae, the species is distributed worldwide. The young leaves of V. grandifolia is culturally used as vegetables and for medicinal purposes. Vitex grandifolia is considered an underutilized and indigenous vegetable (UIV) because its importance and usefulness are greatly undervalued. Micro and macro-deficiency which is one of the main cause of health problems and high incidence of death in most children in sub-Sahara Africa. This has necessitated much research towards underutilized and indigenous vegetables (UIVs) because the populace in the remote places outside the commercial route mostly depends on food gathering from the wild and this could contribute greatly to their food system. Various publications’ sites, dissertation search engines, search engines were queried employing keywords as “Vitex grandifolia†and “biological activity of Vitex grandifoliaâ€. This study reports the untapped huge benefits this plant presents and further climaxes with up-to-date knowledge of its chemistry. Only about five compounds have been isolated so far, these compounds are mainly flavonoids and iridoids. The various in vitro and in vivo biological studies of these constituents and extracts were reported. Furthermore, the contradiction about the plant’s toxicity was explained in detail. The indications of its enormous traditional uses are large but the pharmacological facts are unsatisfying because they are few. It is quite relieving that its nutritional evidence is great though much is still needed. This review tends to create a foundation for further studies on its use as a vegetable