Guduchi - Heart-leaved Moonseed

Common Names: Guduchi, Heart-leaved Moonseed, Tinospora cordifolia, Giloy, Tinospora, Tippa-Teega, Shindilakodi, Amruthu, Chittamruthu, Amrutha Balli, Bandau Pich, Rasakinda, Boraphet, Geloya, Gurcha, Galac, Garo, Amritavalli, Amrita, Cinnodbhava, Gulvel, Guluchi, Guduči, global: Indian Tinospora, international: Tinospora cordifolia, origin: Ayurveda, latin: Tinospora cordifolia

Latin Name: Tinospora cordifolia

Origin: Africa, Asia

Short Introduction

This climbing herb thrives on live fences or trees. Guduchi grows well independently without the use of pesticides or fertilizers and is generally easy to cultivate and identify. The plant is most efficiently propagated from cuttings. It grows fastest in tropical regions, where it climbs up larger trees. There is no available information on cultivating Guduchi in the Czech Republic; the plant prefers tropical climates.

Detailed Description

A healing herb native to South Asia, Guduchi is highly valued in traditional medicine for conditions ranging from the common cold to supporting the body during chemotherapy.

Botanical Information

Guduchi, also known as Heart-leaved Moonseed or Tinospora cordifolia, is a perennial climbing herb or shrub with varying stem lengths and numerous offshoots. The stem may be covered in a thin, transparent layer that peels easily, or it may become woody. Its bark is gray or creamy white, and the wood is porous, delicate, and white with a yellowish tint when freshly cut. Guduchi often grows on mango trees or live hedges. The leaves are alternate, heart-shaped, and pointed with a palmate vein pattern, growing singly and covered with a mucilaginous layer. The small flowers are yellow or green and grow in clusters; male flowers are grouped in cymes forming racemose or paniculate inflorescences, while female flowers are solitary or in racemes. Guduchi blooms in cooler weather, and the fruit is a red drupe.

Origin and Distribution

Guduchi is native to India, Myanmar (Burma), and Sri Lanka, but is now found throughout South Asia, with the greatest cultivation in India. The plant is primarily grown in tropical regions up to 1200 meters above sea level, from Kumaon to Assam and as far west as West Bengal, Bihar, Deccan, Konkan, Karnataka, and Kerala. However, plant parts sourced from high-altitude regions, particularly Nepal, are especially valued. Guduchi has been an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, traditionally used for diarrhea and associated conditions. Early European settlers in India were impressed by its tonic and diuretic effects, which contributed to Guduchi tincture's rapid adoption in the West.

Usage / Dosage

The therapeutic parts of Guduchi are the root and stem (Radix et Herba Tinosporae or Radix et Herba Tinospori Cordifolii). In Ayurvedic medicine, Guduchi extract serves as a diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) and is nicknamed "Indian quinine." Traditionally, it is used for infectious diarrhea, gastrointestinal catarrh, strengthening the body, and enhancing immune system performance, as well as long-term use as an aphrodisiac, supporting liver and kidney function, recovery after severe illnesses, treating skin problems, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, autoimmune diseases, and more.

Folk medicine often recommends Guduchi for improving memory, physical stamina, and mental resilience, supporting the body preventively during cancer chemotherapy, enhancing the effectiveness of cytostatic drugs, reducing adverse side effects, lowering high blood pressure, relaxing smooth muscles in the respiratory system, and counteracting histamine responses. Guduchi is also used for stress reduction (anxiety, fear), digestive improvement, stimulating bile secretion, reducing fever, supporting metabolic and excretory processes, improving urinary and genital tract health, addressing acidity, rheumatoid arthritis, high uric acid concentration, inflammation, blood disorders, toxin removal from deep tissues, chronic fatigue syndrome, and even treating syphilitic ulcers. In India and China, it’s used traditionally against leprosy and malaria.

Today Guduchi is especially recommended for its adaptogenic qualities, supporting immune balance and helping the body adapt to environmental changes. Folk healers often add Guduchi to tea blends for respiratory issues; the extract appears to support overall respiratory health and skin wellness. Historically, it has been consumed for general debility, fever, dyspepsia, gonorrhea, syphilis, impotence, urinary tract inflammation, constipation, viral hepatitis, skin disorders, anemia, and, in some South Asian countries, for jaundice, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes. Many Ayurvedic formulations describe Guduchi’s use for colds, fevers, viral and bacterial infections, loss of appetite, dry mouth, and even in oil-based remedies for urinary retention, recuperation, strengthening the spleen, breathing difficulties, cough, epilepsy, fatigue, loss of judgment, and mild mental disorders.

Animal studies have demonstrated Guduchi’s role in inhibiting cancer cell growth and extending survival when concentrated extracts are administered in experimental tumor models, such as with thyroid cancer. Guduchi extract has shown regulatory effects on serum cytokine levels and has demonstrated anti-melanoma activity in pre-clinical settings.

Guduchi extracts also caused a drop in plasma glucose levels in animal models of type 2 diabetes (induced by alloxan), thus supporting blood sugar balance—though not as strong as pharmaceutical drugs, a significant decrease was noted. Other studies demonstrated a lowering of serum cholesterol, phospholipids, and free fatty acids, suggesting improvement in liver metabolism and fat processing.

Active constituents in Guduchi have shown antioxidant activity by blocking peroxidases, nitric oxide, and free radicals (nitrile, superoxide, hydroxyl) at the cellular level. Antioxidant effects have been observed in animal studies involving diabetes, liver toxicity, and kidney inflammation, helping immune wellness and supporting kidney and urinary tract health.

Clinical studies confirm Guduchi extract’s liver-protective properties against high concentrations of liver-damaging toxins, especially in combination with turmeric, where Guduchi performed better than placebo. Guduchi is widely and frequently used in Indian Ayurveda as an immunostimulant, likely due to bioactive compounds such as syringin, cordiol, cordioside, cordifoliosides A & B, and polysaccharides (such as arabinogalactan and alpha-D-glucan), which help modulate the immune response and support phagocytosis. Shown to positively influence cytokine regulatory processes during stress-induced ulcers and hypothermia.

An 8-week clinical study with Guduchi aqueous extract demonstrated reduction of symptoms in allergic rhinitis, sneezing, nasal blockage, and pruritus. Other clinical trials have explored Guduchi’s role in healing leg ulcers or increasing the effect of chloroquine (for rheumatoid arthritis) when used in combination.

Active Compounds

Guduchi contains proven adaptogenic substances including diterpenes, polyphenols, and polysaccharides (such as arabinogalactan). Other components include alkaloids, diterpene lactones, glycosides, steroids, sesquiterpenes, phenols, aliphatic compounds, and additional constituent polysaccharides. Leaves contain notable concentrations of proteins, calcium, and phosphorus.

Traditional Dosage

Guidelines vary, but international literature recommends 1 g of 5% bitter aqueous extract from Guduchi tops, 2–3 times daily. Ayurvedic blends like Amrita Ghrita may be consumed at 10–15 g daily, optionally with fresh mint. For capsules, typical dosage is 300 mg 3 times daily for at least 6 months, followed by a break of several months. Tinctures are used at 25–40 drops, 2–3 times per day, on a regular basis. Some sources suggest combining Guduchi with artichoke for synergistic effects. Almost all sources recommend taking Guduchi with or after food.