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Introduction:
Tinospora or Giloy or Amrita is a
well known medicinal herb contains anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. This herb has been used in
Ayurveda in India since centuries as a medicine in building up the immune system and the body’s confrontation
against definite infecting organisms. In a scientific study conducted using human WBC (white blood corpuscles),
this herb helps in increasing the killing ability of macrophages, the resistant cells those are accountable for fighting foreign materials as well as microorganisms
Tinospora or Giloy is used as an immune-modulator in immune-suppression of certain ailments like as obstructive jaundice, hepatic fibrosis, peritonitis and sepsis.
Guduchi or Giloy improve the functioning of protective cells, macrophages and will improve body’s resistance to infections.
This herb is highly recommended by Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev in preventing swine flu that has been declared epidemic world wide.
Common Name:
Hindi - Giloya, Guduchi
English - Tinospora
Latin - Tinospora Cordifolia
Sanskrit - Guduchi, Madhuparni, Amrita, Chinnaruha,
Vatsadaani, Tantrika, Kundalini, Chakralakshanika
Tamil - Shindilakodi
Kannada - Amrita balli
Telgu - Tippaa tiga
Malayalam- ambrithu, cittamrtu
Marathi - Gulavela
Gujarati - Galo
Bengali - Gulancha/palo
Punjabi - gilo
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Tinospora shrub:
Tinospora is a big climber
(glabrous) shrub generally climbs on large trees. It is a twining, succulent-stemmed, fast growing with tuberous roots. Its branches are grey-green, up to 40 mm in diameter, becoming brown with age. The
leaves are heart-shaped and 100 x 100 mm. Its flowers are tiny creamy-greenish and male and female flowers are formed on different branches. It flowers in spring. The female
flowers are followed by oval red fruit up to 10 mm in diameter. These ripen during summer and autumn.
Its stems are Fleshy and roots are long thread like, aerial, arise from branches.
Bark is thin, greyish or creamy white in colour, When peeled fleshy stem is exposed.
Its seeds are curved, pea sized. .
Chemical Constituents:
Contains alkaloid – Berberine and a glucosoid – Giloin,
The active adaptogenic constituents are: diterpene compounds including tinosporone, tinosporic acid, cordifolisides A to E,
syringen, the yellow alkaloid, berberine, Giloin, crude Giloininand, a gluco sidal bitter principle as well as polysaccharides, including arabinogalactan polysaccharide
(TSP).
The active adaptogenic constituents are diterpene compounds including
tinosporone, tinosporic acid, cordifolisides A to E, syringen, the yellow alkaloid, berberine,
Giloin, crude Giloininand, a gluco sidal bitter principle as well as
polysaccharides, including arabinogalactan polysaccharide (TSP). |
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Cultivation
The plants are long-lived and often locally
abundant. It does not require any particular type of soil. It can grow
in any temperature.
Tinospora as Medicinal shrub
Tinospora or Guduchi is considered one of the best herbs to clear the micro-circulatory system and other
bodily channels. The antistress or anxiolytic activity of Tinospora cordifolia is well documented by researchers and clinically tested.
Tinospora or Guduchi acts as a diuretic and found to be effective against Renal obstruction like calculi and other urinary disorders. Guduchi acts as a memory booster, develops inteligence, promotes mental clarity. It is described as one of the Medhya Rasayana (mental
rejuvenative) in the Charak Samhita (The oldest and most potent book of Ayurvedic Medicine).
Guduchi is regarded as a liver protector.
Guduchi is considered helpful in eye disorders as a tissue builder and promotes mental clarity.
The stem of guduchi is used in general debility, dyspepsia and urinary diseases.
Guduchi is anti-pyretic and act as a tonic after fever, also has action against alternative fever like Malaria.
Strengthen Immune System: Guduchi is one of the best medications known to boost immune system. It helps to boost our natural resistance power to avert numerous infections and disorders. A recent study has revealed that this herb contains a novel polysaccharide, known as
alpha-D-glucan which is found to be noncytotoxic to the white blood cells comprised of B cells which are mainly functioning in humoral immunity,
and T cells which are mainly responsible for cellular immunity.
Some health experts and Ayurvedic doctors also prescribe Tinospora or Giloy for some sexually
transmitted diseases. The herb is useful in treating various skin diseases.
Extracts of Tinospora cordifolia (TCE) have been shown to possess anti-tumor properties.
Tinospora other uses
Tinospora is very helpful in building up natural protection against various diseases. It is often used to fight against general debility, dyspepsia, and some other gastrointestinal diseases. This herbal medication is stomachic and diuretic in nature which effectively stimulates the secretion of bile juice, relieves thirst, burning sensation, vomiting tendencies, and jaundice.
Economics
There is a huge market for the roots, extract of Tinospora in medicinal use.
Recent research
Tinospora cordifolia shows significant bactericidal activities. It improves bacterial clearance as well as
improves phagocytic and intracellular bactericidal capacities of neutrophils. It also stimulates macrophage action. As a result it stimulates
immune system of body. (Ref. Thatte UM, Kulkarni MR and Dahanukar SA, Immunotherapeutic modification of Escherichia coli peritonitis and bacteremia by Tinospora
cordifolia, IPGM (1992) 38 (1): 13-15).
Research study shows that diabetic mellitus patients with foot ulcers on Tinospora cordifolia as an adjuvant
therapy showed considerably better final outcome with improvement in wound healing. Reduced debridements and improved phagocytosis were statistically significant, indicating beneficial effects of immuno-modulation for ulcer healing.
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