Journal of Ethnopharmacology 67 (1999) 37 – 44 Biological activities of crude plant extracts from Vitex trifolia L. (Verbenaceae) M.M. Herna ´ndez a , C. Heraso a , M.L. Villarreal a,b , I. Vargas-Arispuro c , E. Aranda a, * a Centro de Inestigacio ´n en Biotecnologı ´a, UAEM, Ae. Uniersidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernaaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico b Centro de Inestigaciones Biome ´dicas del Sur, IMSS, Argentina No. 1, Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico c Centro de Inestigacio ´n en Alimentacio ´n y Desarrollo, A.C. Apdo. Postal 1735, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico Received 14 February 1998; received in revised form 16 February 1999; accepted 8 March 1999 Abstract Biological assays of Vitex trifolia L. organic extracts have shown relevant activities. Hexanic and dichloromethanic (DCM) extracts, when prepared from stems and foliage, have proved to be very toxic against several cancer cell lines in culture (SQC-1 UISO, OVCAR-5, HCT-15 COLADCAR, and KB). Also, an important antifeeding activity against the insect pest Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was recorded. The hexanic extract from leaves completely inhibited the growth of the fungal plant pathogen Fusarium sp. within the first 2 days of the experiment, but dropped significantly at day 6 (15% inhibition). The potential of V. trifolia for several uses is discussed. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Antifeeding; Antimicrobial activity; Cytotoxic activity; Vitex trifolia ; Verbenaceae www.elsevier.com/locate/jethpharm 1. Introduction The genus Vitex (Verbenaceae) approximately includes 270 known species of trees and shrubs within tropical and sub-tropical regions, although few species may be found in temperate zones. Vitex trifolia L. is a shrub or shrubby tree that may grow up to 6 m. Its origin is unknown and several varieties have been described in distant countries as India and Mexico (McMillan, 1976). Several Vitex species are used as folk remedies in Mexico. V. mollis is reported as a remedy to alleviate dysentery, as well as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory medicine; other folk uses in- clude the treatment of scorpion stings, diarrhea and stomach ache (Argueta et al., 1994). Several other Vitex species are folk remedies to treat diarrhea and gastrointestinal affections (V. pi - ramidata, V. pubescens, V. agnus -castus and V. gaumeri ) (Argueta et al., 1994; Ahmad and Holdsworth, 1995; Bajpai et al., 1995). Also, anti- malarial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties have been reported for V. gaumeri, V. agnus -cas - tus and V. negundo, respectively; V. negundo is * Corresponding author. 0378-8741/99/$ - see front matter © 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. PII:S0378-8741(99)00041-0