Chemical Characterization and In Vitro Bioactivities of Vitex negundo Leaf Extracts

Vitex negundo L. (Verbenaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory, microbial, and oxidative stress-related disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Vitex negundo leaf extracts, along with their chemical characterization using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antibacterial activity of acetone, methanol, and aqueous extracts was assessed by agar well diffusion method against four bacterial strains. The acetone extract exhibited notable antibacterial activity, particularly against Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis. Antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH radical scavenging assay, where acetone and methanol extracts demonstrated the highest activity in a dose-dependent manner. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of various functional groups associated with bioactive compounds. GC-MS profiling identified 24 compounds in the acetone extract and 20 compounds in the methanol extract, with major constituents such as isoambreinolide, catechol, n-hexadecanoic acid, kojic acid, karanjin, and phytol, many of which are known for their antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Overall, the findings indicate that Vitex negundo leaves are rich in bioactive phytochemicals and possess significant antibacterial and antioxidant activities, supporting their traditional medicinal use and highlighting their potential for pharmaceutical applications.