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Chemical analysis reveals high fiber, fatty acids, and essential minerals in Vitex agnus-castus leaves, highlighting potential for nutraceutical and cosmetic use.
This study provides a targeted bioactive lipid and nutritional profile of the under-investigated leaves of Vitex agnus-castus L. An absolute methanolic extract of shade-dried leaves was analysed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) after derivatization, alongside essential mineral quantification via atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and proximate analysis. Rigorous data validation excluded analytical artefacts. GC/MS tentatively identified ten validated bioactive compounds, predominantly glycerol (45.21%, a lipid hydrolysis artefact), oleic acid (9.89%), and palmitic acid (9.16%), alongside phytosterols stigmasterol (1.14%) and ergosterol (0.84%). AAS revealed rich essential trace elements, specifically iron (49.8 ppm) and zinc (33.8 ppm). Proximate analysis showed moisture (7.15%), ash (9.53%), protein (13.42%), crude fibre (26.05%), fat (4.25%), and carbohydrates (39.60%). The combination of high crude fibre, moderate protein, and skin-compatible fatty acids highlights V. agnus-castus leaves as realistic raw materials for fibre-fortified animal feed, dietary fibre supplements, and topical cosmeceutical formulations, providing a solid foundation for future therapeutic exploration.
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Thabet et al. (2026) studied this question.
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