Vitexin is an apigenin flavone C-glycoside isolated from Crataegus spp. (hawthorn), Passiflora spp. (passionflower), P. glaucum R. Br. (pearl millet), P. nigra (bamboo leaves), V. agnuscastus L. (chasteberry), and various other tropical plant species. It demonstrates antioxidant activity in a DPPH bleaching assay (IC50 = 24.2 μM) and also inhibits the activity of the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme α-glucosidase (IC50 = 244 μM). It has been shown to have broad anti-tumor activity, activating caspases and inducing apoptosis in cancer xenograft models. Additionally, vitexin at 10 mg/kg exhibits an analgesic effect in several different models of inflammatory pain by targeting TRPV1 channel activity, by preventing the decrease of reduced glutathione levels, and by modulating the production of cytokines.
