Family : Menispermaceae

English : Tinospora, Gulancha tinospora

Hindi : Gulancha, Giloy, Amrita

Gujarati : Galo

Sanskrit : Guduchi, Amrita

Part used : Stem

Botanical Description: A large extensively spreading glabrous, perrenial deciduous twiner with succulent stems and papery bark; leaves simple, alternate, cordate, entire, glabrous, 7-9 nerved, flowers yellow, in lax racemes, arising from nodes on the old wood, male flowers in clusters, female flowers usually solitary, fruit drupes, red when ripe. The surface of the stem appears to be closely studded with warty tubercles and the surface skin is longitudinally fissured. On removal of the surface skin the dark greenish mucilage stem is seen. Flowering and fruiting from September to Febuary.
It is found throughout India

Modern Pharmacological Action: The principal constituents of Guduchi are tinosporine, tinosporide, and tinosporaside. Guduchi is used in Ayurvedic rasayana to improve total health and the body’s resistance to infections by increasing antibody production and reducing inflammation. It has been described as useful in mutrakriccha (urinary trouble). In a scientific study on rats and human volunteers, T. cordifolia was found to have diuretic effects. It is also known to have anti oxidant and anti inflammatory activity.