GUDUCI

Botanical Name— Tinospora cordifolia

Family- MENISPERMACEAE

Synonyms— Avyathã, Amrtã, Amrtavalli, Kundali, Guducikã, Gundra, Cakrañgi, Cakralaksana, Cañdrahãsa, Jivantikã, Jvara nãgini, Jvarãri, Tañtrikã, Deva nirmitã, Dhãrã,Nãga kanyaka, Naga kumãrikã, Bhisakpriyã, Mandali, Madhupariii, Rasãyani, Vatsàdani, Vayasthã, Varã, Visalyã, syäma, Surakrta, Somã, Soma valli etc.

Names in different language

Marathi : Ambarvel, Gulavela

Oriya : Gulochi, Gulancha

Hindi : Gibe, Gurach

Kannada : Arnryta balli, Ugani
Malayalam: Amrytu, Sittamrytu
Telugu : Tippa teega

Bengali : Giloe, Gulancha

Punjabi : Batindu, Gibogularich
Gujarati : Gado, Gulo

Sikkim : Gurjo

Tamil : Amrida Valli, Pattigai Silam,

Introduction—

It is one of the non-controversial drug used in Ayurvedic medicine. It used for Grãhi, Väta hara, Dipaniya, Kapha-Raktahara and Vibandhahara , Medhya Rasayãnas

Classification according to Caraka, Susruta & Vagbhata

Caraka : vayahathapana, daha prasamana, trshna nigraha, stanya sodhana

Susruta : guducyadi, patoladi, valli pancamula, kakolyadi, aragvadhadi

Vagbhata : guducyadi, patoladi, aragvadhadi

Varieties & adulterants - (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)

1. Gudüci

2. Kandodbhavã Gudüci. - Tinospora sinensis / T. malabarica - [AD]

3. Padmã Guduci

4. T. Crispa - [CV]

Morphology

(I) T. cordifolia Miers (Menispermum cordifolium Wilid.)

It is a large climber with succulent, corky and grooved stems; branches possess slender pendulous fleshy roots.

Leaves- membranous, glabrous, 5-10 cm long, cordate; petiç.2.5-7 cm long.

Flowers- in racemes of about 5 cm; axillary, terminal or from the old wood, pale yellowish white in colour.

Fruits- carpels, dorsally convex, ventrally flat, size of a large pea.

(ii) T. cinensis: (T. malabarica (Lam.) Miers). –

It is a large climber with 2 cm diameter stem, old branches are smooth and shining, more or less warty light coloured papery bark, yong parts covered with whitish hairs.

Leaves- membranous, sparingly pubescent above, broadly ovate-cordate,8-24 cm long, petioles 6-14 cm. long, striate.

Flowers- arranged in pseudo racemes arising from the old branches, simple, pedunculate, yellowish green coloured.

Fruits- drupes 1-3, scarlet or orange coloured.

Distribution & Habitat

Both species are distributed almost throughout India.

Cultivation— Propagated by cuttings of stem. It can be grown in almost any types of soil and under varying climatic conditions.

Distinguishing microscopic characters of T. cordifolia & T. sinensis—

Tissue	T. cordifolia	T. sinensis
1.Schlerenchymatous sheath	Become disintegrated into scattered irregular patches in the cortical region.	Broken into areas capping the vascular bundle and remain persistent even after further screening growth.
2.Crystal	Absent	A large crystal of calcium oxalate is present within the lumen of each cork cell.
3.Mucilage cells	More	Less.
4. Vascular strands	Fewer	Greater
5. Xylem	well developed, in each strip of vascular strand	Poorly developed
6. Pith	very narrow and composed of thin walled cells	-
7. Starch content	More	Comparatively poor.

Chemical

T. Cordifolia—

diterpenoid , tinosporin ,Tinosporide ,cordifolide ,Tinosporidine ,beta sitosterol isolated stems; cordifol, heptacosaflol , octacosanol , furanoid diterpene, tinosporide , 1, 8-norclerodene glucosie— tinosporaside, glycosider, cordifolisides A-E and two phenyl propane glycosides ,Isocolumbin, tetrahydropalmatine, magnoflarine and palmatine

T. malabarica—

sitosterol, tetracosanoic acid , tinosporin ,Tinosporinone , allyloxyl,dibenoylethane , Kokusaginine ,glucoside,

Properties

Rasa - Tikta, Kasãya (leaf is considered as Madhura by
Kaiyadeva)

Guna - Guru, Snigdha

Virya - Usna

Vipãka – Madhura

Karma - Tridosa amaka, Medhya, Rasãyan, Dipaniya, Grãhi, Medohara, Kadüghna, Jvara hara, Dãha-prasamana

Properties of other variety of Gudüci

Rasa— Katu;

Virya— Usna and Vipãka— Katu.

It is specially useful in visa rogas, vatikaa & Paitika.

Internal Use:

Digestive system Useful in thirst, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, liver disorders. jaundice, acid-peptic disorder, dysentery and worms. It increases appetite.

Circulatory system : Raktavahasrotogami. Guduchi satva is effective in cardiac debility, blood -- disorders. rheumatoid arthritis, splenomegaly. gout and anaemia.

Respiratory system : Useful in cough

Reproductive system : Aphrodisiac being shukragami. snigdha and madhur vipak.

Urinary system : Effective in prameha, mainly in diabetes and disorders of urinary bladder.

Skin : It is used in skin disorders like dermatomes and erysipelas etc. It is also useful in syphilitic ulcer.

Temperature : Juice of Guduci is used in chronic lever and typhoid fever. It reduces burning. normalizes temperature, improves appetite and increases the strength.

Satmikaran : Useful in weakness and good rasayana for all seven dhatus.

Important Yogas or Formations

Guduchyadi churna, Guduchyadi kwath. Guduci loha, Ameutarishta, Guduchi Taila

Srotogamitva
Dosha : Tridosha.Dhatu: Rakta, meda. dravdhatu. shukra ( rasayani.)Mata : Mutra

Part used

Stem, leaf, areal roots.

Dose— Stem powder 3-6g; decoction (1/20) - 50-lOOmI; Infusion (1/10) - 30-60 ml; fresh juice 10-20m1; Gudüci Sattva 1-2g;
DE 250-500mg (stem); TR (1/8) 2-8 ml

Indications— Jvara, Trsnã, Vtarakta, Pãndu, Kämalã, Dãha, Prameha, Kushta, Chardi, Krmi, Kandü, Raktãras, Medoroga, Visarpa, Kãsa, Jarã Vyãdhi.

Gudüci Sattva—

The process of Sattva (cold water extract) is not traceable in the Brhat Trayl texts. It is mainly developed during the medieval period. The process involves, cursing of Gudüci stems and extracting in the cold water at room temperature (i.e.; without heating). After repeated extractions the cold- infusion is dried and the obtained solid powder is called as “Guduci Sattva’. It has been in extensive use in India as a valuable tonic, alterative and anti-pyretic.

Important research work going on

1. anti-rheumatic and diuretic

2. anti-inflammatory property

3 inhibition of constrictor response of histamine and acetyl choline on smooth muscles

4. Hepatoprotective activity

5. The antioxidant activity

6. serum and tissue cholesterol, phospholipids and free-fatty acids levels.

Therapeutic Uses—

1. Medhya.-. The fresh juice of Guduci (20m1 twice daily) may be used (C.S.Ci.1/1).

2. Jvara.—

(a) Guduci Svarasa (juice) + Satãvari svarass equal parts (l0 ml each) are mixed together and given along with jaggary in vãta jvara (S.S.Ut. 39/174)2.

(b) Decoction prepared with Guduci, Parpata & Amalaki (500- l00 ml) may be administered in case of Pitta Jvara (Ha. Sam.3/ 2/71).

3. Prameha— Guduci Svarasa with honey (A.H.Ci.1216)4.

4. Slipada— Guduci Svarasa along with ginger oil (Taila) is given orally (C.D.42/1 6).

5. Amlapitta-.- Leaves of Gudüci, Nimba and Patola are made into juice and administered along with honey (B. P.Ci.10/16)’.

6. Chardi— Gudüci Hima Kasãya may be given orally along with honey (Bha.Pra,Ci. 17/21).

7. Vãtarakta— Chronic administration of Guduci in either juice or paste or powder or decoction form will definitely cure Vãtarakta (B.P.Ci. 29/41 & V. M. 23/10).