A review on the ethnopharmacological and therapeutic aspects of TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA THUNB. of menispermaceae family

Abstract

Tinospora cordifolia Thunb. commonly known as Guduchi is one of the most important medicinal herbaceous vine belonging to the family Menispermaceae which have relatively fewer documented medicinal plants compared to other families.  Menispermaceae family is native to India’s tropical regions, Myanmar and Srilanka, consisting of about73 genera and about 320 species. Among them Tinospora cordifolia is well known for its medicinal value and therapeutic potentials. The whole plant is utilised in both traditional and modern medical system due to the presence of high alkaloid content in its stem and leaf parts. T. cordifolia is mostly distributed in India, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines, Indonesia and Africa and typically thrive well in dry deciduous forests in an altitude up to 1000ft. This plant is renowned for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycaemic and immunomodulatory properties.  Major phytochemical componds including alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, diterpenoid lactones, sesquiterpenoids etc are present.  T.cordifolia is widely used for the preparation of various herbal medicines and it is mentioned as ‘Rasayana’  in Ayurvedic medicine due to its power to rejuvenate and improve the immune system.  Its plant parts are commonly used to treat diseases such as bronchitis, syphilis, ulcers, jaundice, piles, urinary tract infections, skin problems and liver diseases. This review aims to highlight the traditional and ethnopharmacological significance of Tinospora cordifolia in the current scenario of increasing demand for plant-based products for the treatment of chronic diseases worldwide.