Tinospora
cordifolia گلو
Tinospora
cordifolia is an herb used in UNANI to
enhance vitality. It is being researched for a variety of health effects,
including its effect on diabetes, glucose metabolism, inflammation, immune
system support, and neurology which is known by the common names heart-leaved
moonseed, guduchi and giloy, is an herbaceous
vine of the family Menispermaceae indigenous to
the tropical areas of India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka
It is an important drug of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) and used
in medicines since times immemorial. The drug is well known Indian bitter and prescribed in fevers,
diabetes, dyspepsia, jaundice, urinary problems, skin diseases and chronic
diarrhea and dysentery. It has been also indicated useful in the treatment of
heart diseases, leprosy, helmenthiasis and rheumatoid arthritis. The starch
obtained from the stem known as “Sat-Giloy” is highly nutritive and digestive
and used in many diseases. During last two decades, the drug has been subjected
to extensive phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical investigations and
many interesting findings in the areas of immunomodulation, anticancer
activity, liver disorders and hypoglycemic are reported. The plant is distributed
throughout the tropical region of India up to 1,200 m above sea level from
Kumaon to Assam, in north extending through West Bengal, Bihar, Deccan, Konkan,
Karnataka and Kerala. It is a fairly common plant of deciduous and dry forests,
growing over hedges and small
Tinospora
cordifolia supplementation
improves the ability of macrophages, an immune system cell, to consume their
targets, though this effect is not immunostimulatory. Supplementation can also
ward off allergies. One study suggests Tinospora
cordifolia is as potent as Spirulina as an
anti-allergic supplement.
Preliminary
evidence suggests Tinospora
cordifolia may provide benefits for people with diabetes.
Supplementation of Tinospora
cordifolia can reduce the body’s absorption of sugar-derived
carbohydrates, and it may also play a role in reducing the pathologies
associated with diabetes, like retinopathy and nephropathy. There is currently
no human evidence for these effects.
Tinospora
cordifolia may
be a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, which means it may raise catecholamine
levels. The plant may also contain phytoandrogen, which means it can protect
against DNA damage induced by the environment and radiation therapy.
Finally, Tinospora
cordifolia may have Adaptogen-like properties.
Venicular names
Sanskrit: guduchi, amrta,
Punjabi: گلو (Giloy),
Tamil: (Shindilakodi),
Malayalam: (Amruthu,
Chittamruthu),
Kannada: (Amrutha balli)
Gujarati: galac, garo,
Bengali: Gulancha,
Marathi: Guduchi (गुडूची), Gulvel
Odia: Guluchi,
Myanmar: Nepali: Gurjo (गुर्जो). Konkani
Botanical description
Tinospora
cordifolia commonly named as “Giloy” in Unani belonging to family
Menispermaceae is a genetically diverse, large, deciduous climbing shrub with
greenish yellow typical flowers, found at higher altitude.In racemes or
racemose panicles, the male flowers are clustered and female are solitary. The
flowering season expands over summers and winters. A variety of active
components derived from the plant like alkaloids, steroids, diterpenoid
lactones, aliphatics, and glycosides have been isolated from the different
parts of the plant body, including root, stem, and whole plant. Recently, the
plant is of great interest to researchers across the globe because of its
reported medicinal properties like anti-diabetic, anti-periodic,
anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, anti-oxidant, anti-allergic,
anti-stress, anti-leprotic, anti-malarial, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory
and anti-neoplastic activities. In this review, we focus our attention to: It is a large, deciduous extensively spreading
climbing shrub with several elongated twining branches. Leaves simple,
alternate, exstipulate, long petioles up to 15 cm long, roundish,
pulvinate, both at the base and apex with the basal one longer and twisted
partially and half way around. Lamina broadly ovate or ovate cordate,
10–20 cm long or 8– 15 cm broad,
Uses in Indigenous Systems of Medicine
In Unani System, mostly “Sat Giloe” is
incorporated in the preparations. “Arq Giloe” prepared from the fresh plant is
considered a febrifuge, while “Arq Maul Laham Mako-kashiwala” is a general
tonic.
The Ayurvedic drug Guduchi or Amrita is mentioned in various classical
texts of Ayurvedic System of Medicine, viz. Charak, Sushrut and Ashtang
Hridaya and other treaties like Bhava Prakash and Dhanvantari
Nighantu under other various names, viz. Amara, Amritvalli,
Chinnarrhuha, Chinnodebha and Vatsadani etc
. In Sushurta Samhita, it is mentioned under “Tikta-Saka
Varga” and claimed to be useful in treating Kustha (leprosy), Maha-jvara (a
kind of fever), Svasa (asthma) and Aruchi (anorexia). In other treaties
i.e. Charak Samhita and Ashtang Hridaya, it has
been indicated in diseases like Kamala (jaundice), Jvara (fever) and Vat Rakta
(gout), etc.. In Bhava Prakash, it is considered as a bitter tonic,
astringent, diuretic and potent aphrodisiac and curative against skin
infections, jaundice, diabetes and chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. In Dhanvantari
Nighantu, its medicinal properties are mentioned for cure of bleeding
piles, promoting longevity, curing itching and erysipelas. The drug also caught
the attention of European physicians in India as a specific tonic, antiperiodic
and for its diuretic properties and it was included in the Bengal Pharmacopoeia
of 1868
T. cordifolia is mentioned in Ayurvedic literature
as a constituent of several compound formulations used in general debility,
dyspepsia, fever and urinary diseases. Some of the important formulations are:
Uses in folk and tribal medicine
T. cordifolia finds a special mention for its use
in tribal or folk medicine in different parts of the country. Some of the
important uses mentioned are given below:
The tribals Baiga, living in the interior
areas of Naugarh and Chakia Block of Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh make the
paste of stem of the Guduchi (T. cordifolia) and the roots of
Bhatkatiaya (Solanum surattense). The pills are prepared and used in the
treatment of fever for three days18.
The tribals of Bombay and its neighbouring
areas and the fishermen along the sea coast use T. cordifolia as
drug in the treatment of fever, jaundice, chronic diarrhoea and dysentery19.
The tribals of Khedbrahma region of North
Gujarat use the plant in their day-to-day life as food or medicine. They use
powdered root and stem bark of T. cordifolia with milk for the
treatment of cancer; decoction of root is used for the cure of dysentery and
diarrhoea and decoction of old stems is preferred in the treatment of periodic
fever.
Decoction of stem is administered orally
by the people of Jammu (J & K) and Bigwada (Rajasthan) for the treatment of
fever.
The inhabitants of Bhuvneshwar (Orissa)
use the warm juice of root of T. cordifolia orally for the
treatment of fever.
Juice or decoction of leaves is
administered orally with honey in fever by the local people of Patiyala
(Punjab).
The Muslim tribals of Rajouri, Jammu
(Tawi) comprising Gujjar and Backwals used the plant in bone fracture.
In Dahanu forest division of Maharashtra,
tribal races, viz. Agaris, Bhils, Dhodias, Dublas, Khakaris, Rimoshis, Thakurs,
Vardaris, Vagharis and Varlis use the stem decoction with cold or hot water
(about 3-4 gm) in morning in an empty stomach as a tonic in general debility.
Shirt of child is dyed in juice of Guduchi
and worn in balashosha (emaciation in children) by the
inhabitants of Banka (Bihar)
Powder of Terminalia chebula (Haritaki),
Tinospora cordifolia (Amrita) and Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain)
in equal quantity is administered orally, once daily early morning with salt
for the treatment of cough Decoction of these drugs is also to be taken in dose
of 50 ml for the treatment of Kasa (cough) by the people of Dhurala (Haryana)
Two drops of leaf juice of allied species
of Guduchi (T. sinensis) is dropped in the ear for the treatment of pain
in ear by the local people of Patiyala (Punjab)
Paste of Guduchi (T. cordifolia)
and 5 seeds of Krishna marich (Piper nigrum) is administered orally once
daily in morning in leucorrhoea by the local women of Arjunpura (Rajasthan).
The inhabitants of Badala (U.P.) take the
juice of stem orally with honey for the treatment of (Asthma).
Decoction of stem is administered orally
in case of twak-roga (skin disease) by the people of Dehrabara
Kolaras, Sivpuri District of M.P.
Chemical Constituents
The plant T. cordifolia has
been subjected to chemical investigations extensively and a number of chemical
constituents belonging to the different groups, viz. terpenoids, alkaloids,
lignans, steroids have been reported. Some of the important constituents
reported so far are:
Therapeutic Applications
Anti-cancer/anti-tumour
activity:
Administration of T. cordifolia stem methanolic extract to BALB/c mice (200 mg/kg, i.p. daily for 5 days) increased the total white blood cell count significantly (P<0.001). It also increased bone marrow cellularity and a-esterase positive cells in bone marrow indicating increased maturation of stem cells.Treatment with plant significantly inhibited OTA-induced suppression of chemotactic activity and production of IL-1 and TNF-a by macropahges. One of the compounds, NII-70, isolated from T. cordifolia, has been found to activate the macrophages and induced production of IL-12 and TNF-a and antigen specific Th1 response; NII-70 also induces production of nitric oxide by macrophages and has shown therapeutic effect against Leishmania infection and tumour implant in experimental animals.
Anti-HIV activity
TCE has been shown to demonstrate a decrease in the recurrent resistance of HIV virus thus improving the therapeutic outcome. Anti-HIV effects of TCE was revealed by reduction in eosinophil count, stimulation of B lymphocytes, macrophages and polymorphonuclear leucocytes and hemoglobin percentage thus, revealing its promising role of application in management of the disease.
Anti
Diabetic and Hyperglycaemic activity:
Alcoholic extracts of the stem showed
activity against E.coli. Effect on fasting blood sugar, glucose
tolerance and against equieprine induced hyperglycemia have been studied. The
aqueous and alcoholic extract caused reduction in the fasting blood sugar,
which have been interpreted as indicating some indirect action of the drug on
carbohydrate metabolism. Similarly, glucose tolerance had increased in the
beginning but the deterioration in tolerance occurred after one month. It has
been suggested that the action of the drug is due to its favourable effects on
the endogenous insulin secretion, glucose uptake inhibition of peripheral
glucose release. The extract caused an increase in body weight,
total haemoglobin and hepatic hexokinase. The root extract also lowers hepatic
glucose-6-phosphatase and serum acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and
lactate dehydrogenase in diabetic rats. Thus TCREt has hypoglycaemic and
hypolipidaemic effect.Histological studies of pancreas did not reveal any
evidence of regeneration of ß-cells of islets of Langerhance. The possible mode
of action of the drug has been discussed projecting a hypothesis related to
control of glucose metabolism61.
Anti-inflammatory activity:
The decoction of T. cordifolia showed
anti-inflammatory activity.The effect of extract of stem of T.
cordifolia was studied on the contractile response due to various
agonists The possible mechanism of
antagonistic action of T. cordifolia has been discussed in the
light of involvement of various autocoids in the pathophysiology of clinical joint
inflammation. The mechanism of potentiating effects of T. cordifolia on
NA induced responses is suggested to be due to an uptake blocking effect
of T. cordifolia or to an inhibition of metabolism by COMT
since MAO inhibition would also produce potentiation of 5-HT responses.
Antioxidant activity:
Antioxidant activity and amelioration of
cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity has been reported. It has an amelioratic
effect in aflotoxicosis of duck.
Anti-stress
activity:
Ethanol extract of T. cordifolia at
the dose of 100 mg/kg exhibited significant anti-stress activity in all the
parameters studied, compared with diazepam at the dose of 2.5 mg/kg.
Anti Ulcer activity:
The ethanol extract of the root of T.
cordifolia was observed to induce a marked protective action against
restrain stress induced ulcerization. The activity was comparable to that of
diazepam.
Digestive activity
The antiamoebic effect of a crude drug
formulation containing T. cordifolia against Entamoeba
histolytica was studied. There were varying degrees of inhibition of
the enzymes, viz. DNase, RNase, aldolase, alkaline phosphatase, acid
phosphatase, -amylase and protease activities of crude extracts of
axenically cultured amoebae.
Anti-arthritic, anti-osteoporotic effects
Single or synergistic formulations of Tinospora cordifolia with Zingiber officinale has
been used in rheumatoid arthritis treatment in traditional medicine. Tinospora cordifolia have
been reported to affect the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization
of bone like matrix on osteoblast model systems in vitroand hence finds
potential application as an anti-osteoporotic agent. Alcoholic extract of Tinospora cordifolia have
been shown to stimulate the growth of osteoblasts, increasing the
differentiation of cells into osteoblastic lineage and also increasing the
mineralization of bone like matrix. Ecdysteroids isolated from the plant have
been reported of protein anabolic and anti-osteoporotic effects in mammals.
Anti-microbial
activity
The methanol extracts of Tinospora
cordifolia have been reported to have potential against
microbial infections. The anti-bacterial activity of Tinospora cordifolia extracts
has been assayed against Escherichia
coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella
typhi, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella typhimurium,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogene, and Serratia marcesenses (Gram-positive
bacteria). In mice models, TCE has been reported to function in bacterial
clearance and improved phagocytic and intracellular bactericidal capacities of
neutrophils.TCE has been reported of immunostimulant properties on macrophages.
Hypolipidaemic
activity
The hypolipidaemic effect of an aqueous extract
of roots was evaluated. The root extract at a dose of 5.0 g/kg body weight
showed highest hypolipidaemic effect. The effect at the dose of roots at 2.5
and 5.0 g/kg body weight was better than glibenclamide. Insulin restored all
the parameters to near normal values. Aqueous extract of T. cordifolia roots
when administered (2.5 and 5.0 g/kg body weight) for 6 weeks, resulted in a
significant reduction in serum and tissue cholesterol, phospholipids and free
fatty acids
Immunobiological
activities
The water and ethanol extracts of stem
of T. cordifolia inhibit immunosuppression produced by
cyclophosphamide. The ethanol extract of stem of the plants inhibits
cyclophosphamide-induced anemia.Their proliferation did not require
macrophages. The immunobiological activity of ethanolic extract was
investigated on delayed type hypersensitivity, It appear that T.
cordifolia improves the phagocytic function without effecting the
humoral or cell mediated immune system. The activity of a crude extract
formulation containing T. cordifolia and other plant drugs was
evaluated in experimental amoebic liver abscess in golden hamsters and in
immunomodulation studies. In clinical studies, it also showed immunosuppression
on obstructive jaundice patients
Liver
disorders:
The
drug was also studied against the hepatic damage induced by a standard
hepatotoxin – carbon tetra chloride (CCl4). Though acute damage was
aggravated by T. cordifolia, it was proved to be effective in
preventing fibrous changes and promoting regeneration by paranchymal tissue. It
was found that HPN-12 is an effective drug against CCl4 induced
liver damage.
In clinical studies 20 patients of
infective hepatitis were selected on the basis of clinical and biochemical
findings. Four tablets (500mg each) thrice in a day, orally with fresh water
were given to the patient for 4 weeks. Comparison between before and after
treatment of those patients (N=20) were showed that drug T. cordifolia (Guduchi)
played an important role in relieving the symptoms as well as normalization of
altered liver function test.
Urinary
calculi:
The water extract of the stem of T.
cordifolia was experimentally evaluated for dissolution of urinary
calculi.
Uremia
Pharmacological and clinical study
of T. cordifolia was undertaken and its role in uraemia elicited.
The water extract produced marked but transient fall in B.P. along with
bradycardia and increased force of ventricular contraction in dogs and diuresis
in rats. It significantly decreases blood urea levels in uremic dogs and
patients.
Post menopausal syndrome
Clinical evaluation of a non-hormonal drug
minofil containing T. cordifolia along with other plant drugs
was done in women of post-menopausal syndrome. Breast discomfort, nausea and
fluid retention was observed in 22% (7 cases) with estriol and almost no side
effect was observed with minofil. However, long term follow up is required
before universal use in post menopausal syndrome.
Effects on
other diseases
A dose dependent reduction in infarct size and in lipid peroxide
levels of serum and heart tissue were observed with the prior treatment
of Tinospora cordifolia.
The activation of macrophages by cytotoxic T cells leads to increase in GM-CSF
which leads to leucocytosis and improved neutrophil function. Octacosanol
isolated from Tinospora
cordifolia inhibits proliferation of endothelial cells and
Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, The in
vivo administration of alcoholic extract of Tinospora cordifolia has
been reported to increase bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) in bearing
Dalton's lymphoma (DL).
Toxicity
No significant information on side effects
is available so far. Nothing conspicuous has been done as yet in this aspect
although many experiments have already been conducted on this plant. According
to UNANI, herbs are taken in combination with other herbs with the opposing
effect of the other or to enhance the particular effect of one herb with the
help of the other.
Safety Aspects
The drug is traditionally considered to be safe in the dosage
