Phytochemical Studies of the Fruits of Vitex agnus-castus L.

Abstract

The present study focused on the phytochemical constituents of the fruits of Vitex agnus-castus L. (Lamiaceae, subfamily Viticoideae), whose medicinal applications include traditional use in the management of premenstrual syndrome, menstrual irregularities, and hormonal imbalances. It is native to the Mediterranean region and has a long history of utilization in folk medicine, gaining scientific interest due to its rich phytoprofile. The study was performed on the methanolic extract. Using several chromatographic techniques, six compounds (1–6) were isolated. Three polar phytochemicals were successfully isolated and identified from the aqueous extract, namely, two iridoid glycosides, agnuside (1) and eurostoside (2), and a flavonoid C-glycoside, isoorientin (3). Three compounds were isolated from the dichloromethane (DCM) extract two of which were identified as methoxylated flavonoids, casticin (4), and artemetin (5) and the third as the sesquiterpene alcohol, spathulenol (6). The structures of all the isolated compounds were determined using 1D (1H, 13C-NMR, DEPT-135, APT) and 2D NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC) spectroscopic techniques. Thus, this work contributes to elucidating the chemical composition of V. agnus-castus to support its ethnopharmacological use and provide further information on on the isolated phytochemicals.