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ClimberCultivatedPerennialMedicinal

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.)Hook.f. & Thomson

Gilu · Galo bail
Synonym: Menispermum cordifolium Willd

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Description

Tinospora cordifolia is a large perennial climbing shrub or woody climber, commonly growing over trees and shrubs. The stems are succulent, cylindrical, green when young, and become woody with age. Mature stems develop a characteristic grey corky bark with warty lenticels, giving them a rough appearance. The plant climbs by means of aerial roots arising from the nodes. Leaves are simple, alternate, and long-petiolate, usually cordate (heart-shaped), broadly ovate, and 5–15 cm long. The leaf base is deeply heart-shaped, apex is acute to acuminate, and the venation is palmate with several prominent veins arising from the base. The leaves are bright green and glabrous. Flowers are small, unisexual, actinomorphic, and borne in axillary or terminal racemes. The species is generally dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. Male flowers are clustered and possess numerous stamens, while female flowers contain a superior ovary composed of three carpels. Fruits are small ovoid drupes, usually arranged in clusters. They are initially green and become orange-red when mature. Each fruit contains a single curved seed characteristic of the genus.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative
Large woody climbing vine. Heart-shaped leaves. Succulent green stems. Aerial roots from nodes. Corky warty mature stems.
Floral
Small yellowish-green flowers. Male and female flowers usually on separate plants. Axillary racemes.
Fruit & Seed
Small red-orange drupes. Single curved seeds.

Distribution

Native range: Native to Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Sri Lanka.

In Pakistan: Widely distributed in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh. In Pakistan it occurs in Tropical forests, Subtropical regions, Gardens and herbal plantations.

Phenology

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Flowering
Fruiting
Flowering: March–June Fruiting: May–August

Ethnobotany & Uses

Medicinal Importance
Tinospora cordifolia is one of the most important medicinal plants in South Asian traditional medicine systems, especially Ayurveda. Stem the stem is the main medicinal part and is traditionally used for Fever management, General weakness, Digestive disorders, Inflammatory conditions, Leaves and Roots. Used traditionally for Skin problems, Metabolic disorders, Immune support preparations. Major phytochemicals include Alkaloids, Diterpenoid lactones, Glycosides, Steroids, Flavonoids. Important compounds Tinosporin, Berberine-like alkaloids, Cordifoliosides, Traditional Systems of Medicine. Known as "Guduchi" and "Amrita", it is considered a highly valued medicinal plant in Ayurveda, Traditional Indian medicine, Herbal pharmacopoeias.
Economic Importance
Commercially used for production of Herbal extracts, Nutraceutical preparations, Traditional medicines.
Ecological Importance
Provides habitat and food resources for insects. Acts as a climbing component of tropical vegetation.
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Where it grows on campus

West Campus1
1
individuals mapped across 1 zone
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Taxonomic Notes

Tinospora cordifolia belongs to Menispermaceae, a family of mostly tropical climbing plants characterized by Woody climbers, Simple alternate leaves, Small unisexual flowers, Drupe fruits. The species can be distinguished from related climbers by Heart-shaped leaves, Green succulent stems.