IJPCBS 2013, 3(2), 233-241 Elizabeth Margaret et al. ISSN: 2249-9504 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Available online at www.ijpcbs.com Review Article AMRUTHAVALLI (TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA) MULTIPURPOSE REJUVENATOR PV. Neeraja and Elizabeth Margaret* Department of Botany, St. Ann’s College for Women, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad-500 028, Andhra Pradesh, India. ABSTRACT The last decade has seen a global upsurge in the use of traditional medicine (TM) and complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in both developed and developing countries. Various forms of traditional, complementary and alternative medicines are playing a progressively more important role in health care globally and therefore their safety, efficacy, and quality control are important concerns today. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. (Amruthavalli or Guduci), is one of the most versatile rejuvinative herbs widely used as a traditional medicine. It is mentioned in various classical texts of Indian Medicinal Systems and is cultivated throughout the Indian subcontinent and China. The therapeutic efficacy makes for its extensive usage in various systems of medicine. Pre clinical and clinical pharmacological studies affirm the importance of this herb. The notable medicinal properties are 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. The principle constituents present in the plant are alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, glycosides, steroids, sesquiterpenoid, phenolics, aliphatic compounds and polysaccharides. The present paper reviews the pharmacological and phytochemical aspects of the herb and its usage in different medicinal systems. However, the molecular mechanism of these activities of Tinospora cordifolia for its medicinal properties is to be elucidated. Keywords: Tinospora cordifolia, Diterpenoid, Glycosides, Alkaloids. INTRODUCTION hepatitis, skin diseases, and anemia. In Tinospora cordifolia (Wild.)Miers ex Hook.F compound formulations, guduchi is used & Thems (Family: Menispermaceae) clinically to treat jaundice, rheumatoid commonly known as Guduchi is an Indian arthritis, and diabetes. Hindi, the plant is medicinal plant and has been used in commonly known as Giloya, which is a Ayurvedic preparations for the treatment of Hindu mythological term that refers to the various ailments throughout the centuries. heavenly elixir that have saved celestial Ancient Hindu physicians prescribed it for beings from old age and kept them eternally gonorrhea. European medical men in India young. became interested in the tonic and diuretic properties of T. cordifolia. Today, the drug The genus Tinospora and a tincture prepared from it have Tinospora is one of the important genera of received official recognition in the Indian the family, consisting of about 15 species. Pharmacopoeia. It has been used to treat Some medicinally important species general weakness, fever, dyspepsia, includes T. cordifolia, T. malabarica, T. dysentery, gonorrhea, secondary syphilis, tomentosa, T. crispa, T. uliginosa, etc. urinary diseases, impotency, gout, viral 233 IJPCBS 2013, 3(2), 233-241 Elizabeth Margaret et al. ISSN: 2249-9504 Species - Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) secondary growth resulting in the Miers. Family: Menispermaceae formation of 10 to 12 wedged shaped (moonseeds) external xylem which is surrounded by semi Common Name(s): Guduchi , amrita –circular strip of phloem alternating with (Sanskrit), giloe , gulancha (Bengali), giloya medullary rays. Phloem cells contain (Hindi), gado , galo (Gujarati), duyutige , calcium oxalate crystals. Presence of two teppatige (Telugu), heartleaf moonseed layered cambium. Xylem consists of vessels, (English). tracheids, xylem parenchyma and fibres. Distribution: Tinospora cordifolia is a large Pith is parenchymatous which contain deciduous climbing shrub found throughout starch grains.20 India and also in Srilanka, Bangladesh and China.6 Photochemistry A large number of compounds have been Morphology of the Plant reported from the aerial parts and roots of T. cordifolia is a glabrous, succulent, woody T. cordifolia. In the early 1900s, giloin, climbing shrub native to India. It is also gilenin, and gilosterol, as well as the bitter found in Burma and Sri Lanka. It thrives principles columbin, chasmanthin, and well in the tropical region, often attains a palmarin, were identified in the plant. Apart great height, and climbs up the trunks of from these reports also suggests the large trees. The stem is gray or creamy- presence of wide range of alkaloids11,21 white, deeply cleft spirally and steroids, glycosides, polysaccharides, longitudinally, with the space between Berberine17, Sesquiterpenoid.22,15 Detail spotted with large rosette-like lenticels. The photochemistry of the plant is presented in wood is white, soft, and porous, and the the table.1. freshly cut surface quickly assumes a yellow tint when exposed to air. Leaves are simple, Medicinal Systems alternate, exstipulate, long petiolate, Ayurveda chordate in shape showing multicoated Guduchi finds its mention in various reticulate venation. Long thread-like aerial classical referential texts of Ayurvedic roots come up from the branches. Flowers System of Medicine like Charak, Sushrut, are small and Unisexual. Male flowers are in Ashtang Hridayaand , Bhava Prakash and clusters female flower are solitary. Six Dhanvantari Nighantu with its synonymic sepals arranged in two whorls of three each. names like Amara, Amritvalli, Chin- Six petals arranged in two whorls, they are narrhuha, Chinnodebha and Vatsadani etc. obovate and membranous. Aggregate fruit In Sushurta Samhita, it is mentioned under is red, fleshy, with many drupelets on thick “Tikta-Saka Varga” and claimed to be useful stalk with sub terminal style scars, scarlet in treating Kustha (Leprosy), Maha-jvara coloured.16, 4 (High fever), Svasa (Asthma) and Aruchi (anorexia). Charak Samhita and Ashtang Microscopic Details Hridaya, it has been indicated in diseases Cork- Older stem comprises of an outer like Kamala (Jaundice), Jvara (Fever) and zone of thick walled brownish compressed Vat Rakta (Gout), etc. It is considered as a cells and an inner zone of thin walled astringent, diuretic and potent aphrodisiac colorless, tangentially arranged cells.The and curative against skin infections, cork tissue is broken at some places due to jaundice, diabetes and chronic diarrhea lenticels. Cortex-Cortex is multilayered, according to Bhava Prakash. Medicinal outer few layers are made up of irregular, properties of Tinospora is detailed in chlorenchymatous cells while cells of inner Dhanvantari Nighantu. It is a traditional cortex is made up of polygonal cells that belief among the Ayurvedic practitioners contain starch grains which are simple and that Guduchi Satva obtained from Guduchi ovoid. Many secretary cells are found plant growing on Neem tree (Azadirachta scattered in the cortex.Pericycle shows the indica) is bitter, more efficacious and is said presence of fibers. Vascular Bundles- to incorporate the medicinal virtue of Neem Tinospora cordifolia shows anomalous also. 234 IJPCBS 2013, 3(2), 233-241 Elizabeth Margaret et al. ISSN: 2249-9504 Properties: Guna:- Guru, Snighda The Muslim tribals of Rajouri, Jammu Rasa:- Tikta Kashaya (Tawi) comprising Gujjar and Backwals Veerya:- Ushna used the plant in bone Fracture.32 Vipaka:- Madhura Karma (Action): Tridoshahara(Balances Pharmacological studies vitiated Tridoshas) Kushtaghna, Analgesic activity Vedanastaapana(Cures skin diseases and An aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia relieves pain)Jwaraghna(reduces fever), decreased bronchospasm in guinea pigs, Vrishya (aphrodesiac), decreased capillary permeability in mice Rejuvenator (Rejuvenates body systems), and reduced the number of disrupted, mast Formulations: Guduchyadi churna, Guduchi cells in rats. taila,Dashmoolarishtha, Sanjivani vati, Kanta-kari avaleha, Chyavanaprasha, Anticancer activity Guduchi sattva, Brihat guduchi taila, A formulation containing Tinospora Stanyashod-hana kashaya churana, cordifolia, Asparagus racemosus, Withania Punchnimba churana, Guduchi ghrita, somnifera and Picrorrhiza kurrooa markedly Amritaguggulu, Amritashtaka churna, etc. inhibited the suppression of chemotactic activity and production of interleukin-1 and Unani System tumour necrosis factor induced by the In Unani System, mostly “Sat Giloe” is carcinogen ochratoxin in mouse incorporated in the preparations. macrophages.19 “ArqGiloe” prepared from the fresh plant is considered a febrifuge, while “Arq Maul Antineoplastic activity Laham Mako-kashiwala” is a general tonic. Aqueous, methanolic and dichloromethane extracts of Tinospora cordifolia showed Folklore dose-dependent increases in lethality to T. cordifolia finds a special mention for its HeLa cells in vitro. The most potent activity use in tribal or folk medicine in different was found in the dichloromethane extract. parts of the country. Some of the important uses mentioned are given below: Antioxidant activity Naugarh and Chakia Block of Varanasi An extract of Tinospora cordifolia reduced district, Uttar Pradesh (Baiga Tribals)- the toxicity induced by free radicals and Guduchi (T.cordifolia) stem paste along with inhibited lipid peroxidation and the roots paste of Bhatkatiaya (Solanum generation of superoxide and hydroxyl surattense) are made in to pills, that is used radicals in vitro.