Vitex negundo in the Era of Genomics: Applications of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics

Vitex negundo L. belongs to the family Lamiaceae, commonly known as the five-leaved chaste tree (Nirgundi), is a medicinally significant plant species with a rich ethnopharmacological history across Asia. Traditional medicinal systems have utilized various parts of this plant to treat inflammation, pain, respiratory disorders, and numerous other ailments. Genomic technologies have profoundly advanced our understanding of this medicinally valuable species, providing deeper insights into its genetic makeup, metabolic pathways, and therapeutic potential. This comprehensive review examines the intersection of V. negundo research with modern biotechnological and bioinformatic approaches. We explored recent advances in genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses to elucidate the molecular basis of bioactive compound production in V. negundo. This review highlights biotechnological interventions, including tissue culture techniques, genetic transformation protocols, and genome editing strategies, that enhance bioactive compound yield and plant propagation. Additionally, we discuss bioinformatics tools and databases that have facilitated the computational analyses of V. negundo genes, proteins, and metabolites. The integration of multiomics approaches has provided unprecedented insight opportunities for drug discovery in this species. This review also addresses challenges in implementing these technologies and outlines future perspectives for translating genomic insights into practical applications for pharmaceutical development, conservation strategies, and sustainable utilization of V. negundo. This synthesis of traditional knowledge using cutting-edge genomic tools demonstrates how interdisciplinary approaches can accelerate the exploration and utilization of medicinal plants in modern healthcare systems.