Nutritional and medicinal values of black plum, Vitex doniana sweet

Abstract:

Vitex doniana Sweet known as Black plum is a tree crop in the family Lamiaceae. It is commonly used for food and food products as well in traditional medicine for the management and treatment of various ailments such as malaria, diarrhea, rheumatism, hypertension, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. It is also used in treating colds and coughs in children, while the bark is employed in the treatment of sterility, treating colds and coughs in children. This review examines the nutritional and medicinal importance of black plum fruit, the antinutritional factors and highlights potential areas for future research. The review is based on literature collected from studies conducted over the past two decades and included some products developed by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria after its incorporation as a mandate crop of the institute. The phytochemical and the bioactivity profiles of this plant collectively contribute to its therapeutic potentials, thus, supporting its traditional use in the management of various ailments.