PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA (GILOY): A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Abstract Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers, popularly known as Giloy or Guduchi, is a vital medicinal plant in Indian traditional medicine with diverse pharmacological applications. Classified as a "Rasayana" in Ayurveda, it has been used for centuries to enhance immunity, vitality, and overall health. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the pharmacological activities, phytochemical profile, and modern medical relevance of T. cordifolia. The plant contains several bioactive constituents such as alkaloids (berberine, magnoflorine), glycosides (cordifolioside A), diterpenoids (tinosporide, columbin), phytosterols (β-sitosterol), and polysaccharides (glucans, arabinogalactans), contributing to its immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. It has shown significant therapeutic benefits in preclinical and limited clinical studies, especially in chronic diseases and post-viral conditions like COVID-19. However, despite promising outcomes, there are notable gaps in clinical validation, including standardized dosing, long-term safety evaluation, and herb-drug interaction profiling. This review emphasizes the need for large-scale, well-structured clinical studies to substantiate its medicinal potential and promote its inclusion in integrative medicine. T. cordifolia holds promise as a powerful natural agent for future therapeutic applications, provided its efficacy and safety are scientifically confirmed.