Family : Verbenaceae

English : Chinese chaste tree

Hindi : Samhalu, Saubhalu, Nirgundi

Gujarati : Nagod

Sanskrit : Nirgundi

Part used : Leaves

Botanical Description: An aromatic, small tree; leaves compound, opposite, exstipulate, long petioled and digitately 3-5 foliolate, all leaflets with petiolules, the middle one longer, flowers bluish-purple, in panicles upto 30 cm long; fruits globose or ovoid or obovoid, four-seeded drups, black when ripe. Flowering found major part of the year.

It is found throughout India.

Modern Pharmacological Action: Nirgundi has been investigated extensively for its antiinflammatory and analgesic activities but it was only Telang et al (1999) who noticed the inhibitory activity of the extract on prostaglandin biosynthesis and confirmed NSAID-like activity. While anodyne, anti – inflammatory, anti pyretic and febrifuge properties are claimed , it has also been investigated for an anti – inflammatory, anticonvulsant, hepatoprotective and bronchial relaxant actions. Studies conducted on its analgesic action have suggested both central and peripheral activities and an inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by an alcoholic leaf extract