Abstract

Vitex agnus-castus is a folkloric medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicines against various diseases. The agrochemical potential of crude methanolic extract of plant and its hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions were assessed through measuring their antibacterial, phytotoxic, insecticidal and cytotoxic activities (in vitro). All the fractions exhibited excellent herbicidal activity against Lemna aequinoctialis welv. in which chloroform fraction completely inhibited the plant growth at 500 µg/ml concentration. These fractions were also found significant active against various bacteria. Methanolic extract and its fractions did not show any insecticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum andCallusobruchus analis. Preliminary cytotoxicity tests were done with the five fractions using the larvae of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina. These fractions were however found to be relatively non-toxic.

Key words: Vitex agnus-castus, Verbenaceae, antibacterial, cytotoxicity, insecticidal, phytotoxicity.