Ethnopharmacology of Tinospora Species

Tinospora species, most notably Tinospora cordifolia and Tinospora crispa, occupy a central place in traditional medicine systems across Asia, Africa and Australia. Employed for centuries as antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic remedies, these creeper vines are rich sources of alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, flavonoids and glycosides. Traditional practitioners have harnessed stem and leaf decoctions to modulate immune responses, alleviate fever, support hepatic health and promote glycaemic control. Modern phytochemical investigations have identified key constituents such as berberine, magnoflorine and tinosporaside, linking them to antioxidant, immunomodulatory and metabolic regulatory effects. Recent efforts have focused on elucidating molecular mechanisms, establishing safety thresholds and developing standardised extracts suitable for clinical evaluation. The genus’s broad ethnomedical footprint underscores its potential to yield novel drug leads and nutraceuticals, while ongoing challenges include sustainable sourcing, rigorous toxicity assessment and integration of traditional knowledge with contemporary regulatory frameworks.

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Ethnopharmacology of Tinospora Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in ethnopharmacology of tinospora species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Ethnopharmacology: The study of how specific cultural groups use natural substances for medicinal purposes.

Phytochemical: A bioactive chemical compound produced by plants, often responsible for therapeutic properties.

Diterpenoid: A class of natural products comprising four isoprene units, often exhibiting diverse bioactivities.

Immunomodulation: The alteration of immune system activity through chemical or biological agents.

PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase): An enzyme family central to cellular signalling pathways that regulate growth and metabolism.

AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase): A cellular energy sensor enzyme that maintains metabolic homeostasis under stress.

NOAEL (No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level): The highest exposure dose in a toxicity study at which no harmful effects are detected.

References

1. OECD-407 Driven 28-day-repeated-dose non-clinical safety evaluation of Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) stem aqueous extract in Sprague-Dawley rats under GLP compliance. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2023).
2. Tinosporaside from Tinospora cordifolia Encourages Skeletal Muscle Glucose Transport through Both PI-3-Kinase- and AMPK-Dependent Mechanisms. Molecules (2023).
3. Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. & Thomson: A Review of Its Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Aspects. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2016).
4. Genus Tinospora: Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2016).