Abstract

Rasika D. Bhalke*, Mahendra A. Giri, Mayuri Shinde, Anjali Lad and Vishal V. Pande

ABSTRACT

Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is a member of Menispermaceae family. It is also known as Giloe, Giloy, Gurcha (Hindi) and Amrta (Sanskrit). It is found almost everywhere in India and in Himalayas, even up to 1000 feet height. Its habitat ranges across a wide region in India spreading from Kumaon Mountains to Kanyakumari. It is also found in China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo, Vietnam, Bangladesh, North Africa, West Africa and South Africa. T. cordifolia contains different classes of constituents such as alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, glycosides, steroids, sesquiterpenoid, phenolics, aliphatic compounds and polysaccharides etc. T. cordifolia is an important drug of Indian systems of medicine and used in medicines since ancient times. The drug is used in fevers, diabetes, dyspepsia, jaundice, urinary problems, skin diseases and chronic diarrhea and dysentery. It is also useful in the treatment of heart disease, leprosy, and helmenthiasis. The starch obtained from the stem is highly nutritive and digestive and used in many diseases. Objective of present review is summarization of the information about pharmacological and phytochemical aspect of Tinospora cordifolia plant which will be helpful for researchers.