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Jamayet Ali

Deciduous aromatic shrub Nisinda grows gregarious in many places of rural Bangia. It is abundant along the banks of rivers, in moist situations, open wastelands and bushy areas. It is sometimes planted as a hedge plant along the roads and between the fields and is usually not browsed by cattle. The shrub is useful for planting against soilerosion and for afforestation, especially in the reclamation of forest lands which are affected by floods. It has been found suitable for shelter belts and wind breaks in side and outer rows.

Botanical name of this shrub is Vitex negundo Linn. It possesses flowers bluish purple. The name of another species of this shrub is Vitex trifolia. It possesses pale blue flowers. U.C. Dutt informs that, according to Sanskrit writers, the properties of both are said to be identical but the shrub Vitex negundo is generally used in medicine. The ashes of this plant are largely used as an alkali in dyeing. Grayish-white hard wood is used for building purposes, and as a fuel, and the branches for wattle works. The leaves are reported to possess insecticidal properties and are laid over stored grain to ward off insects.

Medicinal Properties: The plant has a pungent, bitter, acrid taste; heating, astringent, cephalic, stomachic, anthelmintic; promotes the growth of hair; useful in diseases of the eye, consumption, inflammations, leucoderma, enlargement of the spleen, bronchitis, asthma, biliousness, painful teething of children. The root is an antidote to snake-venom (Ayurveda) The root is considered tonic, febrifuge and expectorant. The leaves are aromatic, tonic and vermifuge. A decoction of Nirgundi leaves is given with the addition of long pepper in catarrhal fever with heaviness of head and dullness of hearing. A pillow stuffed with the leaves of Nirgundi is placed under the head of relief of headache. The juice of the leaves is said to have the property of removing field discharges and worms from ulcers. An oil prepared with the juice of the leaves is applied to sinuses and scrofulous sores.

The leaves are discutient, and are useful in dispersing swellings of joints from acute rheumatism and of the tastes from suppressed gonorrhoea. In the Konkan, the juice of the leaves with that of Maka (Eclipta alba) and Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) is extracted, and Ajwan seeds are bruised and steeped in it, and given in doses of six massas for rheumatism. The juice in half tola doses with ghi and black pepper is also given, and in splenic enlargement 2 tolas of the juice with 2 tolas of cow's urine is given every morning. Hove, (1787), states that the Europeans in Bombay call it the fomentation shrub, and that it is used in the hospitals there as a foment in contractions of the limbs occasioned by the land winds. The decoction of the leaves is used as a bath in the puerperal state of women in India. The people of Mysore are in the habit of treating febrile, catarrhal and rheumatic affections by means of a vapour bath prepared with this plant. The dried leaves are smoked for the relief of headache and catarrh. The dried fruit acts as a vermifuge. In China and Malaya, the fruits are given for headache, catarrh, and watery eyes. In Ceylon, the leaves, bark and roots are used for toothache, rheumatism, eye disease; and as a tonic, carminative and vermifuge.

Among the Mundas of Chota Nagpur, an expectorant is prepared from the sap. Some six green branches are warmed over a fire and. the sap which flows from their cut extremity is collected in a vessel. This sap is wormed and mixed with clarified butter in which three pounded bulbs of garlic have been med. The patient drinks a little of this now and then. The plant is recommended for the treatment of snake-bite (Charaka, Sushruta, Vagbhata, Vrindamadhava, Rasaratnakara, Bapat) and scorpion-sting (Charaka, Sushruta). In case of snake-bites, the bruised roots, bark and leaves are applied to the wounds. The expressed juice of the &esh leaves is poured onto the nostrils in stupor and coma, and is given internally. A decoction of the roots and bark is also given internally (Roberts). In tarantula bites, the bruised bark and leaves are applied to the wounds. The expressed juice of the fresh leaves is given internally (Roberts). No part of the plant is an antidote to snake-venom. The leaves are useless as an errhone, and the bark, roots, and leaves are also useless as an external application in the treatment of snake-bite (Mhaskar and Caius). The plant is not an antidote to scorpion-venom (Caius and Mhaskar). (Indian Medicinal Plants, K.R.Kirtikar & B.D.Basu, 1938, 1939, 1940)

An extract of the leaves showed anticancer activity against Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. Clinical trials of a powder from the rhizome of Alectra parasitica which grows on the root of Citex negundo is found to be effective in the treatment of leprosy with no toxic effect (Masilungan, Indian J. Pharm., 1963, 25, 381; Prasad, Leprosy Rev., 1962, 33,207). (The Wealth of India, Raw Materials)

Medicinal Values: The flowers are astringent and are used in fever, diarrhoea and liver complaints. The fruits are prescribed in headache, catarrh and watery eyes; when dried they are considered vermifuge. They are much valued medicinally in China. An aqueous extract of the fruits was found to have good analgesic action, when tasted on rats by analgesiometric method. (Quisumbing, 808; Burkill, II, 2239). In the Philippines, the seeds are reported to be eaten after boiling. The young shoots are used in basket making. The ash of the plant is a source of potassium carbonate or pear ash, and is reported to be used as an alkali in dyeing (Monsalud etal, Philipp. J. Sci, 1966,95,43).

The juice of the leaves is largely employed for soaking various metallic powders before making the latter into pills. A pillow stuffed with the leaves is placed under the head for relief of headache. The juice of the leaves is said to remove foetid discharges and worms from ulcers. An oil prepared with the juice of the leaves is applied to sinuses and scrofulous sores (Chakra datta).

Dymock states that, "Vitex trifolia is highly extolled by Bontius, under its Malayan name; he speaks of it as anodyne, diuretic and emmenagogue and testifies to the value of fomentations and baths prepared with 'this noble herb', as he term it in the treatment of Beri-beri and in the obscene affection of 'Burning of the fact' in natives. Of Vitex negundo, Fleming remarks that the leaves have a better claim to the title of discutient than any other vegetable remedy with which he is acquainted, and he adds that their efficacy in dispelling inflammatory swellings of the joints from acute rheumatism and of the tastes from suppressed gonorrhoea has often excited his surprise. The mode of application followed by natives and adopted according to Dr. Fleming by some European practitioners in India, is simple the fresh leaves, put into an earthen pot, are heated over a fire till they are as hot as can be borne without pain; they are then applied to the affected part, and kept in situ by a bandage, the application is repeated three or four times daily until the swelling subsides" (pharm., Ind.)

Roxburgh describes both species as medicinal and mentions that the leaves of Vitex negundo are employed to form a warm bath for women after delivery. Rumphius and Rhude both particularly notice V. trifolia, the first recommending it externally in swellings and diseases of the skin, while the latter asserts that the powdered leaves taken with water cure intermittent fevers. Ainslie writes that the fruit of the same species is supposed by the Vytians to be nervine, cephalic, and emmenagogue, and is prescribed in powder, electuary and decoction. The medicinal qualities of V. negundo he considered to be similar to but weaker than those of V. trifolia. He adds, however, that the root of the former is a pleasant bitter and useful in fever, and that the Muhammedans smoke the dried leaves in cases of headache and catarrh. Invine states that a decoction of the leaves is used in Patna as an internal remedy for fever. Taylor writes that in Dacca the leaves are given with garlic, rice, gur etc., as a remedy for rheumatism.

Both species are given a place in the pharmacopoeia of India, where, in addition to part of the above information, it is stated that Dr. W. Nigledew has described a very interesting method of treating febrile, catalThal and rheumatic affections in Mysore, by means of a rude vapour bath prepared with the plant. The dried fruit is considered vermifuge.

Special Opinions: "The leaves, baked and applied to the head while warm or used a s a pillow, relief headache" (Surgeon-Major Lionel Beach Coconada). "Given also in ftontal head ashes" (Surgeon W.F. Thomas, 33rd M.N.I., Mangalore). The leaves (fresh) are credited with the power of destroying the smell of high tainted meat or fish when boiled with it. The leaves, bruised and formed into cakes, may be applied to the temples to relieve headache" (Civil Surgeon Banku Behary Gupta Poori). "I have often used a bath medicated with the leaves in cases of rheumatism and swelling of joints with excellent results"(Honorary Surgeon E.A. Morris, Tranquibar). "Leaves and root diuretic, diaphoretic and tonic, Tincture, root bark 2 ounces, proof spirit 10 ounces, dose 1 to 2 drams three times a day is found useful in irritable bladder and rheumatism" (Apothecacy

Thomas Ward, Madanapalla, Allahabad) (Dictionary Of The Economic Products Of India)