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Guduchi

Tinospora cordifolia

Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is classified in Ayurveda as Rasayana, Jwaraghna, from the Menispermaceae family. Parts used: stem, root. Also called Giloy.

Key facts
Botanical nameTinospora cordifolia
FamilyMenispermaceae · other entries in this family
OrderRanunculales
Ayurvedic categoryRasayana, Jwaraghna
Taxon identifiersGBIF 7520328 · Wikidata Q3595912 · NCBI Taxonomy 285590
Names in other languages
Sanskritअमृता (amṛtā), अमृतलता (amṛtalatā), Amrtavalli, Chinnodbhava, गुडूची (guḍūcī), Guducika, Madhuparni
Hindiगिलोय (giloya), Giloe, Gurcha
Tamilசீந்திற்கொடி, Seendal, Seendil kodi
MalayalamChittamrutu
TeluguThippateega
KannadaAmrutaballi
MarathiGulvel
BengaliGulancha
GujaratiGalac, Garo
UrduGilo
PunjabiGilo
OriyaGuluchi
AssameseAmarlata, Siddhilata
KashmiriAmrita, Gilo

Sources: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (column alignment reconstructed); Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I Vol I, monograph 27 GUḌŪCĪ (Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers); Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I Vol I, monograph 27 GUḌŪCĪ (Tinospora cordifolia), Hindi: Giloe, Gurcha; 'Names of Plants in India' list gives Hindi गिलोय, गुलांचा, गुलबेल.; Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I Vol I, monograph 27 GUḌŪCĪ, Sanskrit synonyms include Amṛtā and Amṛtavallī; Rāja Nighaṇṭu via wisdomlib s.v. Amṛtalatā: 'Amṛtalatā is another name for Guḍūcī, a medicinal plant identified with Tinospora cordifolia'; Monier-Williams: a nectar-giving creeper, Cocculus cordifolius (= Tinospora cordifolia).; Winslow s.v. சீந்திற்கொடி: 'The சீந்தில் creeper, heart-leaved moon-seed'; Madras Tamil Lexicon / Fabricius / DSAL s.v. சீந்தில்: 'gulanch, Tinospora cordifolia'; API Part I Vol I gives Tamil: Seendal, Seendil kodi.. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2021 to 2025, every one with a DOI.

  • 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
  • 11Other clinical studies and reviews

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishGuduchi
Common NamesGuduchi, Giloy, Heart-leaved Moonseed
HindiGiloy
SanskritGuduchi, Amrita
Latin/BotanicalTinospora cordifolia

Parts Used

  • Stem
  • Root

Dosha Effects

DoshaEffect
VataDecreases
PittaDecreases
KaphaDecreases

Key Phytochemical Constituents

Therapeutic Actions (Karma)

How is it used traditionally?

See Optimal Timing under Dosage forms and preparation for the traditional ways it is taken.

Where is it described in the classical texts?

  • Charaka Samhita (Medhya Rasayana)
  • Sushruta Samhita
  • Bhavaprakasha Nighantu

Stem powder and Satva: see Standard Dosage under Dosage forms and preparation.

Safety, contraindications and cautions

  • Autoimmune conditions
  • Pre-surgery

What is it made of?

Part(s) Analyzed: Stem, Root

Diterpenoid Lactones

  • Tinosporin
  • Tinosporide
  • Columbin
  • Tinosporaside
  • Cordifolioside A-E

Alkaloids

  • Berberine (0.5-1%)
  • Palmatine
  • Jatrorrhizine
  • Magnoflorine
  • Tinosporine
  • Choline

Polysaccharides

  • Arabinogalactan (G1-4A)
  • RR1 (immunomodulatory polysaccharide)

Sterols

  • Beta-sitosterol
  • 20β-Hydroxyecdysone
  • Giloinsterol

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Swarasa (fresh stem juice), Churna (stem powder), Satva (aqueous starch extract), Kashayam (decoction), Ghana Vati (solid extract tablet), Capsule, Ghrita (medicated ghee), Kwath Ghana

Standard Dosage: 10-20ml fresh stem juice; 3-6g powder twice daily; 500mg-1g Satva with honey twice daily; 50-100ml decoction; 500mg Ghana Vati twice daily

Optimal Timing: Traditionally, fresh juice or Satva is taken on an empty stomach with honey for immune support, and Kashayam before meals in fever; Ghana Vati twice daily with meals

Storage: Fresh stem: process within 48 hours. Powder: airtight below 25 deg C. Satva: double-sealed moisture-proof containers with desiccant - extremely hygroscopic. Ghana Vati: blister-packed, room temperature.

Marker Compounds: Tinosporaside, Columbin, Berberine, Palmatine, Cordifolioside A, Arabinogalactan (Satva), 20-beta-hydroxyecdysone, Magnoflorine

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Sunthi (dry ginger) for Amapachana (toxin digestion) and fever - classical combination
  • With Amalaki for antioxidant and immune Rasayana
  • With Ashwagandha for immune-adaptogenic synergy
  • With Neem for antipyretic and blood-purifying action
  • With Gokshura for urinary and immune support
  • With Pippali for bioenhanced immune formulation

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1

  1. Patle D, Vyas M, Khatik GL. 2021. A Review on Natural Products and Herbs Used in the Management of DiabetesCurrent diabetes reviews. PMID 32268866 · doi:10.2174/1573399816666200408090058

Other clinical studies and reviews11

  1. Mansouri M, Imenshahidi M, Rameshrad M and others. 2025. Effects of Tinospora cordifolia (giloy) on metabolic syndrome components: a mechanistic reviewNaunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology. PMID 39731594 · doi:10.1007/s00210-024-03642-2
  2. Bisht A, Tewari D, Kumar S and others. 2024. Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation to elucidate the mechanism of anti-aging action of Tinospora cordifoliaMolecular diversity. PMID 37439907 · doi:10.1007/s11030-023-10684-w
  3. Chaudhary A, Das R, Mehta K and others. 2024. Indian herb Tinospora cordifolia and Tinospora species: Phytochemical and therapeutic applicationHeliyon. PMID 38813196 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31229
  4. Singh N, Yadav SS. 2024. Anti-dengue therapeutic potential of Tinospora cordifolia and its bioactivesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 38679398 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118242
  5. Balkrishna A, Kumar A, Rohela A and others. 2024. Traditional uses, hepatoprotective potential, and phytopharmacology of Tinospora cordifolia: a narrative reviewThe Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. PMID 38280221 · doi:10.1093/jpp/rgae013
  6. Ahsan R, Mishra A, Badar B and others. 2023. Therapeutic Application, Phytoactives and Pharmacology of Tinospora cordifolia: An Evocative ReviewChinese journal of integrative medicine. PMID 37017881 · doi:10.1007/s11655-023-3733-2
  7. Kumar M, Hasan M, Sharma A and others. 2023. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson polysaccharides: A review on extraction, characterization, and bioactivitiesInternational journal of biological macromolecules. PMID 36563821 · doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.181
  8. Andrade RJ, Aithal GP, de Boer YS and others. 2023. Nomenclature, diagnosis and management of drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis (DI-ALH): An expert opinion meeting reportJournal of hepatology. PMID 37164270 · doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2023.04.033
  9. Arunachalam K, Yang X, San TT. 2022. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers: Protection mechanisms and strategies against oxidative stress-related diseasesJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 34509604 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114540
  10. Yates CR, Bruno EJ, Yates MED. 2022. Tinospora Cordifolia: A review of its immunomodulatory propertiesJournal of dietary supplements. PMID 33480818 · doi:10.1080/19390211.2021.1873214
  11. Gayathri S, Raghu CH, Fayaz SM. 2022. Phytotherapeutics against Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanism, Molecular Targets and Challenges for Drug DevelopmentCNS & neurological disorders drug targets. PMID 34544351 · doi:10.2174/1871527320666210920120612

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

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