Inospora Cordifolia (Amritha) – An Important Ayruvedic Plant
By - 10/02/2004
Manju Gopi*, Sapna Shrikumar, T.K. Ravi
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis,College of Pharmacy, SRIPMS,Coimbatore
- 641044
*For Correspondence
Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is a large, glabrous, deciduous climbing shrub
belonging to the family menispermaceae. It is distributed throughout tropical
Indian subcontinent and China, ascending to an altitude of 300m.1
The local names are Guduchi (Sanskrit), Amrita, Giloya (Hindi), Tinospora (English),
Shindilkodi (Tamil), Citamerdu (Malayalam).2The active principles
of Tinospora cordifolia, a traditional Indian medicinal plant were found to
posess anticomplementary and immunomodulatory activities. Syringin (TC-4) and
cordial (TC-7) inhibited the in vitro immunohaemolysis of antibody – coated
sheep erythrocytes by guinea pig serum. The reduced immunohaemolysis was found
to be due of inhibition of the C3-convertase of the classical complement pathway.
The compounds also gave rise to a significant increase in IgG antibodies in
serum. Humoral and cell-mediated immunity were also dose-dependently enhanced.
Macrophage activation was reported for cordioside (TC-2), cordiofolioside A
(TC-5) and cordiol (TC-7) and this activation was more pronounced with increasing
incubation times.39The clinical study of Tinospora Cordifolia was
conducted in 10 patients of jaundice who attended as outpatients and inpatients
to the department of Kayachikitsa, S.S. Hospital, I.M.S., B.H.U., Varanasi.
After administration of a Tinospora Cordifolia decoction 50 ml twice daily,
a quick response within few days was observed, such as an improvement in appetite,
the decreased appearance of icterus, reappearance of icterus, reappearance of
the normal colour of the urine and stools. By the end of 3-4 weeks considerable
improvement was observed both on clinical and biochemical pramaeters. At the
end of the 4th week or after the 4th follow up, final
assessment of the results was done on the basis of clinical improvement as well
as normalization of the altered L.F.T.40
MORPHOLOGY
The whole plant is used. The stems are rather succulent with long Filiform
fleshy aerial roots from the branches.2 The bark is grey, brown and
warty. The leaves are membraneous and cordate, the flowers, small, yellow and
seeds are curved.
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
A variety of constituents have been isolated from T.cordifolia belonging to
different classes such as alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, glycosides, steroids,
sesquiterpenoids. It contains clerodane furan diterpenes i.e. columbin which
is the bitter principle, tinosporaside. The alkaloids tinosporin, tinosporic
acid and tinosporol have been identified in leaves which are rich in proteins
and calcium.1
| S.No. | Type of Chemicals | Active principles | Part in which present |
| 1. | Alkaloids | Berberine,3-7, 38 Palmatine,3-7 | Stem Root |
| 2. | Glycosides | 18-norclerodane glycoside,9 Furanoid | Stem |
| 3. | Diterpenoid lactones | Furanolactone,18 Tinosporon,19 | Whole plant |
| 4. | Steroids | b - Sitosterol,21 g - Sitosterol | Aerial plant stem |
| 5. | Sesquiterpenoid | Tinocordifolin.22 | Stem |
| 6. | Aliphatic compound | Octacosanol,23 Heptacosanol.23 | Whole part |
| 7. | Miscellaneous compounds | Tinosponidine,6 Cordifol,6 | Root wholeplant |
MEDICINAL USES
Guduchi is widely used in veterinary folk medicine / ayurvedic system of medicine
for its general toxic, antiperiodic, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic
and anti-diabetic properties.24,25
a. Ayurvedic uses
The stem is bitter stomachic, stimulates bile secretion, causes constipation,
tonic, diuretic, enriches the blood, cures jaundice, useful in skin diseases,
the juice is useful in diabetes, vaginal and urethral discharges low fevers
and enlarged spleen.26
An extract is prepared by powdering the stem, washing out the starch with
water and drying the sediment.2 This starch (satwa) obtained from
the roots and stems of plant is similar to arrow root in appearance and effect.
It answers not only as a remedial medicinal agent in chronic diarrhoea and some
from of obstinate chronic dysentery but it is also a valuable nutrient when
there is intestinal irritability and inability to digest any kind of food.
In case of acid diarrhoea due to acidity of the intestinal canal or acid dyspepsia.
It is useful in relieving the symptoms of rheumatism.26
There is another preparation of this plant i.e succus, freshly prepared from
the fresh plant – a powerful diuretic.
The root and stem of T. Cordifolia are prescribed in combination with other
drugs as an antidote to snake bite and scorpion sting.24,25,26 The
juice and decoction of the root are applied to the part bitten, poured frequently
into the eyes and administered internally by mouth at intervals of half an hour.26
T. cordifolia is widely used in Indian ayurvedic medicine for treating diabetes
mellitus. Oral administration of an aq. T.cordifolia root extract to alloxan
diabetic rats caused a reduction in blood glucose.1
In a clinical evaluation, compound preparation ‘Rumalaya’ containing T.cordifolia
was reported to significantly reduce the pain in patients suffering from rheumatoid
arthritis.1
b. Pharmacological uses
The aq. extract of the stem antagonises the effect of agonists such as 5-hydroxytryptamine,
histamine, bradykinin and prostaglandins E1, and E2 on
the rabbit smooth muscle, relaxes the intestinal, uterine smooth muscle and
inhibits the constrictor response of histamine and acetylcholine on smooth muscle.
I.V. exposure to aq. Extract of T.cordifolia in doses of 5, 10 and 15.0 mg/kg
body weight produces a temporary but marked fall in blood pressure and bradycardia
in anaes-thetized dogs.27
It is reported that the daily administration of either alcoholic or aq. Extract
of T. cordifolia decreases the blood glucose level and increases glucose tolerance
in rodents. Aq. Extract also caused a reduction in blood sugar in alloxan induced
hyperglycemia in rats and rabbits in the dose of 400mg/kg. The aqueous extract
has also exhibited some inhibitory effect on adrenaline – induced hyperglycemia.
Ethylacetate extract of its roots has afforded a pyrolidine derivative with
hypoglycemic activity in rabbits.1
T.cordifolia is reported to benefit the immune system in a variety of ways.17
The alcoholic and aqueous extracts of T.cordifolia have been tested successfully
for immuno-modulatory activity.28 It helps increase the effectiveness
of WBC and builds up the body’s immune system. It also has significantly reduced
the mortality from E.coli induced peritonitis in mice. In clinical study, it
has afforded protection in cholestatic patients against E.coli infection.29
The anti-stress and tonic property of the plant was clinically tested and it
was found that it brought about good response in children with moderate degree
of behaviour disorders and mental deficit.1
The hepatoprotective action of T.cordifolia was reported in one of the experiment
in which goats treated with T.cordifolia have shown significant clinical and
hemato-biochemical improvement in CCl4 induced hepatopathy. Extract
of T.cordifolia has also exhibited in vitro inactivating property against Hepatitis
B and E surface antigen in 48-72 hrs.30
Studies on induced oedema arthritis and on human arthritis proved the anti-inflammatory
potency of water of T.cordifolia. The effect was comparable with indomethacin
and its mode of action appeared to resemble that of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
agent. The dried stem of T.cordifolia produced significant anti-inflammatory
effect in both acute and subacute models of inflammation. T.cordifolia was found
to be more effective than acetylsalicylic acid in acute inflammation.31
The aq. extract of roots of T.cordifolia has shown the antioxidant action in
alloxan diabetes rats. The administration of the extract of T.cordifolia roots
(2.5, 50mg/kg body wt) for 6 weeks resulted in a significant reduction of serum
and tissue cholesterol, phospholipids and free fatty acids in alloxan diabetic
rats.32
Jagetia. et al, have found that guduchi killed the HeLa cells very effectively
in vitro and thus it indicates that guduchi needs attention as an anti neoplastic
agent. In this study exposure of HeLa cells to 0, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml
of guduchi extract (methanol, aq. and methylenechloride) resulted in a dose
dependent by significant increase in all killing when compared to non-drug treated
controls.33
The standardisation of plant was carried out for the parameters as mentioned
in table no.1.
Standardised parameters of T.cordifolia Table No.1
| S.No. | Parameters | Specifications |
| 1. | Physicochemical analysis - Moisture - pH - Acid insoluble ash - Solubility a) in water b) in alcohol |
<5% w/w 3±0.4 <8%w/w
NLT 60% w/w NLT 40% w/w |
| 2. | Heavy metal analysis Lead Cadmium Arsenic |
< 10ppm < 1ppm < 2ppm |
| 3. | Microbiological analysis - Total viable aerobic count - Total enterobacteriaceae - Total fungal count |
< 104 cfu g-1 < 100 cfu g-1 < 100 cfu g-1 |
| 4. | Test for specific pathogens E.coli (1g) Salmonella typhi (10g) Salmonella aureus (1g) |
Absent Absent Absent |
| 5. | Pesticide residue | DNA |
| 6. | Assay of active principle by HPTLC / HPLC Assay of bitter content on dry basis by gravimetry / HPTLC | Cordifolioside NLT 0.5% w/w
NLT than 3% w/w |
PRESENT SCENARIO – IN AYURVEDA
Ayurveda advocates the treatment for entire body as a single unit. With modern
medicine it gives a synergestic activity and antagonise and minimise the toxicity
of modern drug.34 In Sanskrit T.cordifolia is also called ‘Pittaghni’
i.e bile destroying.2 It is used as an immuno modulator in immunosuppression
of obstructive jaundice, peritonitis and Sepsis.
The plant has been found effective in preventing fibrous changes and promotes
regeneration of the liver against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity.7
T.cordifolia is widely used in Indian ayurvedic medicine for treating diabetes
mellitus. Oral administration of an aq.T.cordifolia root extract to alloxan
diabetic rats caused a significant reduction in blood glucose and brain lipids.35
FORMULATIONS OF T.CORDIFOLIA
T.cordifolia is considered as a rasayana and rejuvenating herb. It is a vitalizer
which replenish the vital fluids of body. .cordifolia have been used in about
141 herbal formulations. It is available as Chayavanprasha, Pippalirasayan,
Triphalarasayan, Shilajita rasayanas.
It is also marketed as capsules, tablets Giloy satva, Guduchiyadi tailam, Kashaya.
Immunod is the new marketed product which contains the active constituent tinocordin.
In a clinical evaluation, a compound preparation ‘Rumalya’ containing the plant
was reported to reduce the pain in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
It is taken as a single herb as well as used as a primary ingredient in formulation
such as septilin and liver formula, by Banyan.
CONCLUSION
T.cordifolia is widely used in botanical formulations in India and China. It
is reported to benefit the immune system in a variety of ways. Experiments suggest
that its ability to scavenge free radicals and to block free radicals and to
inhibit radical induced membrane damage may be the underlying feature of many
of the biological activities of this herb. The bitter content on dry basis was
assayed by HPTLC indicates NLT 3% w/w. It is found to be non toxic inacute toxicity
studies. As per the observation of WHO, in many parts of the world, plant extracts
continue to the only source of medicine due to economic, cultural and may be
other reasons. But in the present age with an increasing concern for environment,
plant medicines, natural products, unlike semi-synthetics, are the only renewable
resources. There is a strong ground for the need of such medicines from natural
products. The studies on T.cordifolia reveals that it is an excellent drug which
could be a good solution to various ailments of mankind.
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