6.3.18 Tinospora Cordifolia (Family: Menispermaceae)
This plant is commonly known as Guduchi, Moonseed, Giloy found in Indian
Subcontinent, China. Tinospora cordifolia has a broad spectrum of immunotherapeutic properties ranging from antipyretic anti-inflammatory, antiallergic antidiabetic, antihepatotoxic, antibacterial properties and has relatively low toxicity. It
also helps the cell repair and rejuvenation process (Sharma et al. 2020). The key
active components isolated from the plant include phenyl propanoid glycosides
such as Cordifolioside A, Cordifolioside B and syringin (Maurya et al. 1996),
and immunostimulatory compound-D-glucan (Nair et al. 2004, 2006). The
immunomodulatory property of the Guduchi extract was validated by assessing its
effect on activating resting macrophages and by estimating the generation of
secretory factors like NO and lysosomes (More and Pai 2011). Water and ethyl
acetate extracts of T. cordifolia stem increased the phagocytic activity of human
neutrophils. The immunostimulatory action may be attributed to the synergistic
action of two or more than two active components like Cordifolioside A and
syringin. T. cordifolia extract is also shown to stimulate the proliferation of stem
cells. It increases the total number of WBCs and alpha-esterase-positive cells an
indicator of an increase in bone marrow cells. The extract also increases the number
of antibody-producing cells, hence implying its role in fortifying the humoral
immune system. The extracts of T. cordifolia are also found to be effective against
tumors and reduced tumor growth comparable to that of treatment with
cyclophosphamide (Mathew and Kuttan 1999).
6.4 Conclusion and Future Perspective
Phytochemicals and phytomedicine have been widely used in medicine for centuries. Various traditional and folk medicines were based on the unexplored character of these phytochemicals. Scientific investigations in the last several decades
have uncovered the molecular roles of these phytochemicals. Recently in-vitro and
in-vivo studies have highlighted their role in immune system modulation. The role
of phytochemicals in treating infectious, acute as well as chronic diseases was
studied extensively. Though, their efficacy, biosafety and bioavailability have not
been fully studied. Application of a systems biology approach to model the multidimensional targets of these chemicals would be a much effective approach. This
would further pave the path for the application of phytochemicals in personalized
medicine to minimize the adverse/side effects and maximize effectiveness.
Immunomodulatory therapeutics are the agents that could modulate the immune
system of an organism if it increases or stimulate the immune response are called as
immunostimulants or if it decreases or suppresses immune response are called
immunosuppressants. These drugs are most commonly used in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory conditions, cancer, allergic reactions, AIDS, and some viral
6 Natural Compounds Extracted from Medicinal Plants …
247
This plant is commonly known as Guduchi, Moonseed, Giloy found in Indian
Subcontinent, China. Tinospora cordifolia has a broad spectrum of immunotherapeutic properties ranging from antipyretic anti-inflammatory, antiallergic antidiabetic, antihepatotoxic, antibacterial properties and has relatively low toxicity. It
also helps the cell repair and rejuvenation process (Sharma et al. 2020). The key
active components isolated from the plant include phenyl propanoid glycosides
such as Cordifolioside A, Cordifolioside B and syringin (Maurya et al. 1996),
and immunostimulatory compound-D-glucan (Nair et al. 2004, 2006). The
immunomodulatory property of the Guduchi extract was validated by assessing its
effect on activating resting macrophages and by estimating the generation of
secretory factors like NO and lysosomes (More and Pai 2011). Water and ethyl
acetate extracts of T. cordifolia stem increased the phagocytic activity of human
neutrophils. The immunostimulatory action may be attributed to the synergistic
action of two or more than two active components like Cordifolioside A and
syringin. T. cordifolia extract is also shown to stimulate the proliferation of stem
cells. It increases the total number of WBCs and alpha-esterase-positive cells an
indicator of an increase in bone marrow cells. The extract also increases the number
of antibody-producing cells, hence implying its role in fortifying the humoral
immune system. The extracts of T. cordifolia are also found to be effective against
tumors and reduced tumor growth comparable to that of treatment with
cyclophosphamide (Mathew and Kuttan 1999).
6.4 Conclusion and Future Perspective
Phytochemicals and phytomedicine have been widely used in medicine for centuries. Various traditional and folk medicines were based on the unexplored character of these phytochemicals. Scientific investigations in the last several decades
have uncovered the molecular roles of these phytochemicals. Recently in-vitro and
in-vivo studies have highlighted their role in immune system modulation. The role
of phytochemicals in treating infectious, acute as well as chronic diseases was
studied extensively. Though, their efficacy, biosafety and bioavailability have not
been fully studied. Application of a systems biology approach to model the multidimensional targets of these chemicals would be a much effective approach. This
would further pave the path for the application of phytochemicals in personalized
medicine to minimize the adverse/side effects and maximize effectiveness.
Immunomodulatory therapeutics are the agents that could modulate the immune
system of an organism if it increases or stimulate the immune response are called as
immunostimulants or if it decreases or suppresses immune response are called
immunosuppressants. These drugs are most commonly used in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory conditions, cancer, allergic reactions, AIDS, and some viral
6 Natural Compounds Extracted from Medicinal Plants …
247