Prof. (Dr) R.D. Gupta
Called, Guduchi (Gaduchi) or Gulchi in Sanskrit, which means one that protects the human body. It is also called as amrita or nectar. The other names of the plant are Vatsadini and Giloe (Gloe) or Giloy. Botanically the plant is referred to Tinospora cardifoli Willed Miers and belongs to the family Menispermaceae.
Giloe is a climber and is one of the most important medicinal plants of Ayurveda. There is hardly any preparation in which it is not mentioned. It is prescribed in many diseases even as a home remedy. Some of the very important medicinal uses of the giloe are discussed here under:
Medicinal Uses
Giloe is famous for strengthening the immune system and helping the functioning of various body organs to remain in a balanced state. Giloe as a herb continues to be equally popular and useful in the present era as it was thousands of years ago. Giloe pacifies all the vitiated body humors and Vaidays of Indian Medicines System accustomed to the ancient pharmacology apply a specific method to derive starch like substance from the fresh stem, which is known as satva or extract. This extract has the same medicinal properties as that of basic plant but is considered cold in effect.
The chemical composition of Giloe consists of various alkaloids, glucosides, fatty acids and volatile oils. It is well known for its anti-pyretic, anti-arthritic, antimicrobial including bacteria, liver protective, stomachic and blood purifying pro-perties. As a bitter tonic, giloe has also provedto be an immune modulator antioxidant, rejuvenator, and restorative agent (Vatsyayan, 2011). Giloe has been described as one among the four most herbs called “medhya rasayan, meaning to be boon for the brain and the nervous system.
Owing to its wide ranging, therapeutic values, Giloe is used in chronic and intermittent fevers, rheumatism, gout, skin diseases, urinary disorders, infections and liver diseases. Since it is very easily available and generally safe to use, Giloe is relied upon by millions of people and is utilized as a home remedy in a number of conditions.
Chronic and intermillent fever-Giloe is famous as the Indian quinine and taking of its 10 to 20 ml watery extract twice a day is very effective remedy in non-specific febrile conditions. Patients of goul can regularly take 20 ml fresh juice of the stem of Giloe.
Taking half a gramme of Giloe satva with a small piece of amla murabba on an empty stomach is helpful in preventing an acute and chronic acidity. Diabetics can take it with one gramme of dry powder of amla. Glio has been tested as a cure for everything from urinary tract infection to hepatitis and diabetic as well, which had already been stated. Some of the Ayurvedic scholars have demonstrated that Glio can be used as a sperm purifier. The oil of the Glio is used as a pain reliever for gout. Glio is bitter, and is packed with alkaloids and glycosides that reduce inflammation and enables the body to fight infections (Annonymous, 2009)
Chemical Composition of Glio
A wide temdency to utilize Glio as its herbal products to supplements the diet, mainly with the intention to ameliorate the quality of life and prevent the diseases. It is attributed to the presence of a number of chemical constituents in this herb. These chemical components belong to the different groups which consist of alkaloids, terpenoids, lignans, steroids etc.
a) Steroids: A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a specific arrangement of four specific cycloalkane rings and joined to each other. Hundreds of distinet steroids are found in plants, animals and fungi. Steroids reported from Glio are Glioino sterol and -sitosterol. Due to presence of above active constituents, different biological activities are shown by the Glio.
b) Lignans: Lignans are phyto-nutrient, a class of plant compounds beneficial to human health but not classified as vitamins.
c) Terpenoids: Terpenoids are diverse class of naturally occurring organic compounds similar to terpenes. Plant terpenoids are used extensively for their aromatic qualities. Terpenoids reported in Glio are: Tinosporide, Frunolactone clerodon.
d) Alkaloids: The group of naturally occurring chemical compounds which mostly contain basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with alkaline, neutral and even weakly acidic properties. In addition to carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen alkaloids may also contain oxygen, sulphur andother elements like chlorine, bromine and phosphorus. Alkaloids reported in Glio are: Tinosporine, magnaflorine, tambetarine and berberine.
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