Lagundi

Also known as: Five-leaved chaste tree · Vitex negundo (binomial name) · Dangla (Ilocano name) · Lirio (Visayan name)

Definition

Lagundi (Vitex negundo L.), also known as the five-leaved chaste tree, is a large woody shrub native to the Philippines. It is officially recognized as one of the ten medicinal plants clinically validated and approved by the Department of Health (DOH) through the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC). Lagundi is extensively utilized as an herbal medicine for the relief of cough, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments, and is manufactured commercially in the Philippines in standardized syrup and tablet forms. (Official Gazette)

Identities

Source Type	Identity
Wikipedia	Vitex negundo
Wikidata	Q2505500
DBpedia	Vitex_negundo
ProductOntology	N/A
Wiktionary	lagundi
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)	Vitex negundo — Therapeutic use — Philippines
MeSH	Vitex
NCBI Taxonomy	Vitex negundo (taxid: 154332)
AGROVOC	Vitex negundo
Google Scholar	Lagundi Vitex negundo cough asthma Philippines DOH
ConceptNet	lagundi
OpenCyc	N/A

Also Known As

Five-leaved chaste tree
Vitex negundo (binomial name)
Dangla (Ilocano name)
Lirio (Visayan name)

Examples and Analogies

Ascof Lagundi (Commercial Formulation): The first clinically proven, DOH-approved commercial cough syrup and tablet brand made from pure lagundi leaves, developed by Pascual Laboratories in collaboration with government scientists.
Contrast with Synthetic Bronchodilators: While synthetic drugs (such as salbutamol) target specific beta-2 receptors for rapid dilation, lagundi works through a combination of anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, and muscle-relaxing properties attributed to its active chrysoplenol D flavonoids.

Usage Scenarios

1. Treating a Productive Cough

A consumer purchases lagundi syrup over-the-counter at a local pharmacy to treat a persistent cough. (Inquirer)

2. Traditional Remedy Preparation

A rural resident boils fresh lagundi leaves to make a decoction for asthma relief, following traditional preparation guidelines. (Official Gazette)

Strategies

Choose FDA-registered commercial lagundi preparations over unstandardized home brews to ensure consistent dosage and purity.
Consult a physician if cough or asthma symptoms persist for more than seven days despite taking lagundi.
Use lagundi syrup as an expectorant to help loosen phlegm during a common cold.

Security and Safety Measures

Do not use lagundi as a substitute for emergency rescue inhalers during an acute, severe asthma attack.
Verify that commercial lagundi tablets are stored in a dry, cool place to prevent the degradation of active botanical compounds.
Confirm that any home-brewed decoction is made from clean, pesticide-free leaves to avoid chemical poisoning.

Historical Context

Lagundi has been used in Philippine folk medicine for centuries. In the 1970s and 1980s, the National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants (NIRPROMP), a DOH-led scientific consortium, conducted clinical trials that validated its safety and efficacy. This research paved the way for the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997, leading to commercial production and its inclusion in the national drug formulary. (Official Gazette)

Challenges and Controversies

Efficacy Limitations

While highly effective for mild to moderate coughs and asthma, lagundi is not a cure-all and cannot replace conventional antibiotics for bacterial respiratory infections like pneumonia.

Counterfeit and Unregistered Brands

The commercial success of lagundi has led to the proliferation of unregistered herbal supplements making therapeutic claims without FDA clearance.