Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. & Thomson: A Review of Its Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Aspects

Abstract

Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. & Thomson (Menispermaceae), found in the rainforests or mixed deciduous forests in Asia and Africa, is used in traditional medicines to treat numerous health conditions. This review summarizes the up-to-date reports about the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicology, and clinical trials of the plant. It also provides critical assessment about the present knowledge of the plant which could contribute toward improving its prospect as a source of lead molecules for drug discovery. The plant has been used traditionally in the treatment of jaundice, rheumatism, urinary disorders, fever, malaria, diabetes, internal inflammation, fracture, scabies, hypertension, reducing thirst, increasing appetite, cooling down the body temperature, and maintaining good health. Phytochemical analyses of T. crispa revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and flavone glycosides, triterpenes, diterpenes and diterpene glycosides, cis clerodane-type furanoditerpenoids, lactones, sterols, lignans, and nucleosides. Studies showed that the crude extracts and isolated compounds of T. crispa possessed a broad range of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cytotoxic, antimalarial, cardioprotective, and anti-diabetic activities. Most pharmacological studies were based on crude extracts of the plant and the bioactive compounds responsible for the bioactivities have not been well identified. Further investigations are required to transform the experience-based claims on the use of T. crispa in traditional medicine practices into evidence-based information. The plant extract used in pharmacological and biological studies should be qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed based on its biomarkers. There should be detail in vitro and in vivo studies on the mechanisms of action of the pure bioactive compounds and more elaborate toxicity study to ensure safety of the plant for human use. More clinical trials are encouraged to be carried out if there are sufficient preclinical and safety data.

A pharmacokinetics study of orally administered higenamine in rats using LC–MS/MS for doping control analysis

“…Higenamine (1‐[(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)methyl]‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline‐6,7‐diol; HG), also known as dl‐demethylcoclaurine or norcoclaurine, is a benzyl isoquinoline alkaloid. It is widely found in Chinese medicinal materials as well as traditional food materials and additives including aconite roots, Tinospora crispa , Nandina domestica , Gnetum parvifolium , Asarum herb, and Chinese prickly ash . HG was extracted from aconite roots by Kosuge et al in 1978 for the first time .…”

Analysis for higenamine in urine by means of ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: Interpretation of results

“…Higenamine stimulates beta‐adrenergic receptors (β‐AR)and is considered as an effective anti‐obesity agent . Higenamine is very popular in Chinese medicine and there are numerous papers devoted to its use …”

“…3 Higenamine is very popular in Chinese medicine and there are numerous papers devoted to its use. [4][5][6][7][8][9] The structure of higenamine is presented in Figure 1. Higenamine is a chiral compound with 1 asymmetric carbon.…”

Artesunate-tinospora combination treatment decreases nuclear factor kappa-B and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in mouse malarial models

“…This is due to the fact that tinospora extract has antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antiparasitic activities, which are mainly caused by phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids in all parts of the plant, such as leaves, fruits, seeds, roots, and bark. (5,17) In this study the sample of tinospora stem extract tested on TLC showed a content of total phenolics of 43.34% and total flavonoids of 74.26%, which are high for tinospora and represent its antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties. The antioxidant test conducted by Ibrahim et al (13) showed that a methanolic extract of T. crispa had The excellent anti-inflammatory activity of berberine that has been observed in vitro and in vivo showed decreases in pro-inflammatory cytokines in the acute phase.…”

“…tinocrisposide, and several alkaloids such as aporphine, berberine and palmatine. (5) In a study of 10 Malaysian medicinal plants, using methanol extracts at concentratiosn of 0.03 µg/ml, T. crispa stem extract showed the highest in vitro antiplasmodial activity to P. falciparum at 90% growth inhibition. (6) Berberine and palmatine significantly inhibit the activation of NFκB and decrease the expression of ICAM-1 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in mesangial cells of rats with diabetic nephropathy, while berberine also inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression.…”