Giloye- Guduci- Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia Miers.

Recent research on Tinospora cordifolia

• To evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of stem of (TC) on hyperalgesia in Tinospora cordifolia streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and in vitro aldose reductase inhibition. Tinospora cordifolia prevents hyperalgesia in experimental diabetic neuropathy. It has an aldose reductase inhibitory activity in-vitro which may contribute to the beneficial effects. Nadig PD, Revankar RR, Dethe SM, Narayanaswamy SB, Aliyar MA. Effect of Tinospora cordifolia on experimental diabetic neuropathy. Indian J Pharmacol. 2012 Sep; 44 (Q580- 3. do 10. 4103/ 0253-7613. 10038C0
• The study aimed to isolate and characterize the immunomodulatory active compounds of Tinospora cordifolia. Chromatographic purification of this fraction led to the isolation of a mixture of two compounds 2, 3 isolated for the first time from a natural source and five known compounds 1, 4- 7 which were characterized as 11- hydroxyrmus take one (2 N- methyl- 2- pyrrolidone (3), N- formylannonain (1), cordifolioside A (4), magnoflorine (5), tinocordiside (6), syringin (7) by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) and comparing the spectral data with reported one. Cordifolioside A and syringing have been reported to possess immunomodulatory activity. Other five compounds showed significant enhancement in phagocytic activity and an increase in nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species generation at concentrations 0.1- 2.5 ug/ ml, Sharma U, Bala M, Kumar N, Singh B, Munshi K, Bhalerao S. Immunomodulatory active compounds from Tinospora cordifolia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Jun 14; 141 (3) 918- 26. Epub 2012 Mar 26.
• The immunomodulatory activity of Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) was tried. The confirmation of an immunomodulatory protein in the Guduchi stem showing lymphoproliferative and macrophage-activating properties reinforces the rationale for the use of Guduchi preparations in several Ayurvedic medicines for immunomodulation. Aranha 1, Clement F. Venkatesh P. Immunostimulatory properties of the major protein from the stem of the Ayurvedic medicinal herb Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia). J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Jan 31; 139 (2) 366- 72. Epub 2011 Nov 20
• This study assesses the antioxidant capacity of Tinospora cordifolia stems methanol extract in daily oral administration of 500 mg/ kg of body weight for 40 days in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. After treatment of methanol, Tinospora cordifolia stem extract is brought back to normal (P< 0.01) in the erythrocyte’s membrane and liver cell enzyme activities. Sivakumar V, Rajan MS. Antioxidant Effect of Tinospora cordifolia Extract in Alloxan induced Diabetic Rats. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2010 Nov; 72 (6): 795- 8.
• It is found to be an effective anti-rheumatic and diuretic (Sisodia & Laxminarayan, 1966).
• Rai & Gupta (1966 carried out experiments on the lithotriptic activity of T. Cordifolia. In 22 rats the stone formation was induced by implanting zinc pellets into the bladder. The deposition of the secondary salts over the zinc pellets was inhibited by the aqueous extract of T. Cordifolia.
• The anti-inflammatory property is reported by Rai & Gupta (1966). Water extract showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in rats against the acute and chronic types of inflammation induced by carrageenan and adjuvant (Pendse et al; 1980 & 1981).
• It is reported to be one-fifth potent as analgesia when compared to sodium salicylate. The aqueous extract produced smooth muscle relaxation of intestines and uterus and inhibition of constrictor response of histamine and acetylcholine on smooth muscles (Gupta et al; 1967).
• Aqueous extract of the stem was found to antagonize the effects of various agonists like histamine, 5H-T, bradykinin, and prostaglandins E, & E, on the smooth muscles of guinea pigs and rats (Singh et al; 1975). Administration of aqueous extract (30 days) showed significant improvement in glucose tolerance in rats (Gupta et al; 1964).
• Oral administration of the aqueous and alcoholic extract of the plant significantly reduced FBS in rabbits and rats. The bitter fraction of aqueous extract produced a significant reduction in the blood sugar level, but it effectively inhibited the adrenaline-induced hyperglycemia significantly (Gupta et al; 1967).
• Its aqueous extract (stem) effectively reduced blood sugar levels in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats and rabbits at a dose of 400gm/ kg (Raghunathan & Sharma, 1968). The anti-hyperglycemic effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts, as well as lyophilized powder of T. cordifolia, was evaluated in diabetic animals using different doses of diabetogenic agents for the varying duration (21- 120 days) to assess their effect in mild (plasma suger< 180mg/ dl, duration 21 days), moderated (plasma sugar> 280mg/ dl, duration 120 days) and severe (plasma sugar> 280gm/ dl, duration 60 days) DM. In the pilot study (mild diabetes), a maximum reduction of 70.37% in glucose levels was seen in animals receiving 400mg/kg per day of aqueous extract after 3 and 15 weeks of treatment. The percentage reduction in glucose decreased significantly in moderate and severe diabetics i.e., 48.81% (Grover et al; 2000).
• Hepatoprotective activity was also reported. Conditions simulating viral hepatitis, fatty infiltration, and cirrhosis were induced in rats by using CCl4, in different doses and for variable durations and frequency. The acute liver damage was not prevented by T. cordifolia, but the chronic damage was effectively prevented. It prevented the fibrous changes and promoted regeneration by parenchymal tissue (Regi et al; 1984) Aqueous suspension of the alcoholic extract of the stem protected the liver from injurious effects of CCl4, in mice, rats, and rabbits. The protection is afforded also to the derangement induced by the chronic hepatotoxic effect of CCl4 Prevention of fibrosis by the plant might be by its action on the immune process (Singh B. et al; 1984 a). Kupffer cells are major determinants of the outcome of liver injury. Their activity was therefore studied in a model of chronic liver disease in rats (N=24). The hepatoprotective activity of T. cordifolia was evaluated on Kupffer cell function, by using the carbon clearance test as a parameter. The drug showed a significant improvement in kupffer cell function (Deepa et al; 1994). Hepatoprotective activity on CCl4– induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice is reported (Katewa & Arora, 2001).
• The antioxidant activity of root extract (2-5 & 5g/ kg for 6 weeks) is reported in alloxan diabetic rats (Prince P.S.M. et al; 1999). Oral administration of 2.5gm and 5g/kg body weight of aqueous extract of roots for 6 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and an increase in reduced glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase in alloxan diabetic rats (Prince & Menon, 2001).
• Administration of aqueous extract of roots (2.5 & 5g/ kg for 6 weeks) significantly reduced the serum and tissue cholesterol. phospholipids and free fatty acids in alloxan diabetic rats. The root extract (5g/kg) showed the highest hypolipidemic effect (Prince et al; 1999).
• Its aqueous extract has a high phagocytic index. The active constituent in the drug was also found to inhibit in vitro the growths of M. tuberculosis (Annual Report- ICMR, 1968- 69; 1992 & anon; 1976).
• Ethanolic extract of stem and leaves exhibited significant antipyretic activity in experimental rats (Vedavathy & Rao, 1991).
• Antiallergic properties of an aqueous extract of T. cordifolia stem on histamine-induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs and experimental rats were evaluated. The extract significantly reduced the bronchospasm in guinea pigs, reduced the capillary permeability in mice, and reduced the number of disrupted mast cells in rats (Nayanpalli et al; 1986).
• T. cordifolia was found to be active against Leishmania donovani when administered to golden hamsters (Singha U.K. et al; 1992). The alcoholic extract is found to be effective against Esch. Coli (Gupta et al; 1967).
• The efficacy of T. cordifolia was evaluated against E. coli- induced peritonitis in mice. Pretreatment with T. cordifolia (100mg/ kg/ day for 15 days; orally), produced leukocytosis with 26% mortality at 16 hrs., as against 100% in controlled animals. These results are indicative of the immunomodulatory properties of the drugs (Thatte U. et al; 1987).
• The protective effect of pretreatment with T. cordifolia against mixed abdominal infection induced by cecal ligation was studied in rats. The drug (20mg; 40mg & 100 mg/ kg body wt.) effectively reduced the mortality rate in a dose-dependent manner. The results were comparable to that in the group given metronidazole and the infection and better sac formation. There was no increase in the peripheral neutrophil count and peritoneal macrophages which was associated with the increased phagocytic activity of macrophages (Dhanukar et al; 1988).
• The potentiality of T. cordifolia in cancer management is identified (Thatte U. et al; 1996). Administration of stem methanolic extract to BALB/C mice (200 mg/ kg, i.p. daily for 5 days) increased the total WBC count significantly (p< 0.001). It also increased bone-marrow cellularity and alpha-esterase positive cells in bone-marrow indicating increased malnutrition of stem cells. Administration of the extract also significantly raised humoral cells re- response, as seen from the increase in plaque-forming cells in the spleen and circulatory antibody tire, and produced an enhancement in macrophage activation. The extract decreased the solid tumor growth and synergistically acted with cyclophosphamide to reduce (83%) of the animal tumors. 15.60 rats of Charles Foster strain weighing 200- 250gm were used to study two formulations with T. cordifolia. There were 6 groups with 10 rats each. All animals fell for 15 days in prescribed doses after which they were subjected to cold immobilization stress. Subsequently, Evans Blue was injected, 15 minutes after injection animals were killed and stomachs removed. The quality of Evans Blue in the stomach was established. Pretreatment with all plant products (including T. cordifolia) significantly reduced gastric damage (Till, 1994).
• The alcoholic extract of roots was found to possess normalize the activity against stress-induced changes in norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5- hydroxytryptamine (5- HT), and 5- hydroxy indole acetic acid (5- HIA) levels in rats (Sarma D.N.K. et al; 1995). Both T. cordifolia and C. asiatica (ethanol extracts) exhibited significant antistress activity (Sarma D.N.K, 1996).
• T. cordifolia exhibited mild anti-ulcerogenic activity against gastric ulcers in rats (Biswas et al; 1993). The ethanolic extracts of the roots of I. cordifolia and Centella asiatica administered at a dose of 100mg/kg daily, were observed to induce a marked protective action against an 8-hour resistant stress-induced ulceration. The activity was found to be comparable to that of diazepam in experimental albino rats. The antiulcer activity has been reported as a part of the overall adaptogenic activity (Sharma, 1995).
• I.V. administration of water extract in doses of 5, 10, and 15mg/ kg produced a marked but transient fall in B.P. along with bradycardia in the anesthetized dogs. A decrease in the coronary outflow in the isolated preparation of rabbit heart and the above findings suggest that the basic action of the extract resembles the cholinomimetic drugs. It significantly de- creased blood urea levels in uremic dogs and patients (Singh et al. 1975).