Genus Tinospora: Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology

Abstract

The genus Tinospora includes 34 species, in which several herbs were used as traditional medicines by indigenous groups throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of Asia, Africa, and Australia. The extensive literature survey revealed Tinospora species to be a group of important medicinal plants used for the ethnomedical treatment of colds, headaches, pharyngitis, fever, diarrhea, oral ulcer, diabetes, digestive disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. Indian ethnopharmacological data points to the therapeutic potential of the T. cordifolia for the treatment of diabetic conditions. While Tinospora species are confusing in individual ingredients and their mechanisms of action, the ethnopharmacological history of those plants indicated that they exhibit antidiabetic, antioxidation, antitumor, anti-inflammation, antimicrobial, antiosteoporosis, and immunostimulation activities. While the clinical applications in modern medicine are lacking convincing evidence and support, this review is aimed at summarizing the current knowledge of the traditional uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and toxicities of the genus Tinospora to reveal its therapeutic potentials and gaps, offering opportunities for future researches.

In silico Antidiabetic Screening of Borapetoside C, Cordifolioside A and Magnoflorine

“…Species of genus Tinospora are widely used as a folk medicine for various purposes [7] . Tinospora species have been reported to possess antidiabetic, antioxidant, immunostimulatory and antiosteoporosis activities.…”

“…Further, Ayurveda has listed T. cordifolia in the management of diabetes. T. capillipes and T. sinensis are also offi cially listed in Chinese Pharmacopoeia [7,8] . Borapetoside C is one of the active phytoconstituents from T. crispa while cordifolioside A and magnofl orine are the major phytoconstituents from T. cordifolia and were reported to cause a reduction of oxidative stress and regularise carbohydrate metabolism [9][10][11] in experimental models of T2DM.…”

Rapid Screening and Identification of Diterpenoids in Tinospora sinensis Based on High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Linear Ion Trap-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

“…Compound 45 produced its [M − H] − ion at m / z 597.20002 (C 28 H 37 O 12 S), which exhibited the characteristic fragment ion [M − H − C 8 H 14 O 6 S] − at m / z 359 suggesting the overall fracture of side chain. S-diterpenoids glycosides were very rare in Tinospora , and there only two compounds were reported in this family so far [ 30 ]. By comparison with the fragmentation pathways, compound 45 was plausibly described as cordifolide A.…”

Tinospora cordifolia preserves pancreatic beta cells and enhances glucose uptake in adipocytes to regulate glucose metabolism in diabetic rats

“…It has long been used for the management of asthma, migraine, piles, diabetes, etc., as a folk remedy in these countries (Baral & Kurmi, ; Saha & Ghosh, ). Moreover, this plant is also used as a general tonic, hepatoprotective, antiperiodic, antispasmodic, anti‐inflammatory, antiarthritic, and antiallergic (Chi et al, ; Singh & Chaudhuri, ). It has been reported that berberine, magnoflorine, tinosporine, cordifol, columbin, b‐sitosterol, and tinosporic acid have been isolated from T. cordifolia (Saha & Ghosh, ; Singh & Chaudhuri, ).…”