4 Vet Info-H • May–Aug 2023 • Vol 11 • No. 3 Traditional Uses Pharmacology Habitat Tinospora cordifolia is a large, deciduous, climbing shrub that spreads extensively. The roots are aerial, thread-like, and filiform; the stem is succulent, long, filiform, and fleshy; the leaves are 10 to 20 cm long and intensely green to yellowish green; the flowers are small, unisexual, and greenish yellow; the fruits are fleshy, ovoid with a smooth texture, and scarlet, and enclose white, bean-shaped seeds.1 Morphology The root, stem, and leaves of T cordifolia possess a variety of biologically active constituents that belong to different classes such as alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, steroids, glycosides, and polysaccharides. Some of the main phytochemicals present in the plant parts of T cordifolia include tinosporone, tinosporic acid, cordifolisides A to E, syringen, berberine, giloin, gilenin, gilosterol, tinosporol, tinosporidine, sitosterol, cordifol, tinosporide, cordioside, tinosponone, and others.1 Chemical Constituents Nature’s Secret Tinospora cordifolia T cordifolia is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines, China, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and South Africa.1 The root, stem, and leaves of T cordifolia have been traditionally used for treating various ailments such as fever, diabetes mellitus, dyspepsia, jaundice, urinary tract infections, skin diseases, and chronic diarrhea and dysentery. The plant possesses antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, antistress, anxiolytic, antispasmodic, antipyretic, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, and immunomodulatory properties.1,2 1. The Agari, Bhil, Dhodia, Dubla, Khakari, Rimoshi, Thakur, Vardari, Vaghari, and Varli (Maharashtra, India) tribal groups consume the decoction of T cordifolia stem with cold or hot water on an empty stomach in the morning as a tonic to treat general debility.1 2. The locals of Patiala (Punjab, India) consume the decoction of T cordifolia leaves with honey to treat fever.3 3. The tribals of Rajouri, Gujjar, and Bakarwal use the parts of T cordifolia plant to treat bone fracture.3 4. The tribals of Khedbrahma region (Gujarat, India) consume T cordifolia root and stem powder with milk to treat cancer.3
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