vitex doniana methanolic leaf extract

Vitex doniana methanolic leaf extract is a research-grade natural product derived from the leaves of *Vitex doniana* Sweet (commonly known as black plum), a medicinal plant indigenous to Africa. This complex extract is primarily investigated in preclinical research for its diverse pharmacological properties, including antidiabetic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antimalarial activities. In oncology research, the methanolic extract has been evaluated for its cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects against cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. Mechanistically, the extract and its bioactive constituents—which include flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and phytosterols like γ-sitosterol—modulate the expression of key cancer-associated genes. Specifically, it has been shown to downregulate the androgen receptor (AR) and the anti-apoptotic gene B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), while influencing the activity of caspase-3, cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), and tumor protein P53. Despite its traditional use in herbal medicine, it is not currently an approved pharmaceutical drug and remains in the early stages of scientific validation.

Other names

Vitex doniana leaf extractblack plum leaf extractVitex doniana methanolic extract