Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia): Biological and Medicinal properties, a review

Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is commonly known as rasayana plant and its rejuvenating property is well reported in Ayurvedic and other ancient literature. It is a fairly common plant of the dry deciduous forests growing over hedges and small trees. Various parts of the plant are being prescribed in Ayurveda and other systems of medicine as a monoherbal or polyherbal preparation. In India, various extracts of the plant are used as a remedy for many diseases and are included in various polyherbal preparations used for the treatment of diabetes, hepatitis, etc. Since each part of guduchi has some medicinal property, it is very much commercially exploitable. During the last few decades considerable progress has been achieved regarding its biological activity and medicinal applications. Hence, it can be chosen as a source for the development of industrial products for treatment of various diseases. We have put an effort to compile available literature on research work done for this plant mainly on its therapeutic utility till recent, from the early beginning. This review gives a bird view of the main biological activities, pharmacological actions and medicinal applications of guduchi extracts and also biological activities of few guduchi compounds isolated.