COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LEAF MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND HPLC-BASED PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING OF VITEX NEGUNDO GENOTYPES FROM DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS

Abstract

Vitex negundo L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinally important shrub valued for its flavonoid-rich phytochemical profile, particularly vitexin, which contributes to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. The present study aimed to characterize morphological diversity and phytochemical potential among 30 V. negundo genotypes collected from different geographical regions of South India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh) through integrated leaf morphometric and HPLC-based phytochemical analysis. Seven quantitative leaf traits, namely petiole length, leaf length, mid leaflet width, larger leaflet length and width, and smaller leaflet length and width, were measured and subjected to descriptive statistics, correlation, path coefficient, hierarchical cluster, and principal component analyses. Considerable variability was observed among genotypes, with coefficients of variation ranging from 0.10 to 0.20. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations among leaflet width traits, while path analysis identified larger leaflet width as the principal direct determinant of petiole length. Cluster analysis grouped the genotypes into eight clusters, indicating that morphological similarity did not strictly follow geographic origin. Principal component analysis showed that mid leaflet width, leaf length, and petiole length were the major contributors to overall variation. HPLC fingerprinting of vitexin revealed pronounced differences in phytochemical accumulation among genotypes. Genotype VN13 (Wayanad, Kerala) exhibited superior leaf morphology and the highest chromatographic response (total peak area 106,671,402; major peak 71.34%), identifying it as the most promising genotype for phytochemical exploitation. In contrast, genotype VN9 (Thoothukudi) recorded the smallest leaf dimensions and the lowest chromatographic yield (total peak area 33,737,182), marking it as the least promising accession. These findings highlight the combined utility of morphological and chemical profiling for selecting elite V. negundo germplasm for cultivation, conservation, and pharmaceutical applications.