Tinospora Cordifolia Dealers in Ernakulam

It is a large, deciduous extensively spreading climbing shrub with several elongated twining branches. Leaves simple, alternate, exstipulate, long petioles up to 15 cm long, roundish, pulvinate, both at the base and apex with the basal one longer and twisted partially and half way around. Lamina broadly ovate or ovate cordate, 10–20 cm long or 8– 15 cm broad, 7 nerved and deeply cordate at base, membranous, pubescent above, whitish tomentose with a prominent reticulum beneath. Flowers unisexual, small on separate plants and appearing when plant is leafless, greenish yellow on axillary and terminal racemes. Male flowers clustered, female usually solitary. Sepals 6, free in two series of three each, the outer ones are smaller than the inner. Petals 6 free smaller than sepals, obovate and membranous. Fruits aggregate of 1-3, ovoid smooth drupelets on thick stalk with sub terminal style scars, scarlet or orange coloured.

Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia): - It is a climbing shrub. Barks are gray-brown or cream-white and warty. Leaves re broad, pointed at the tip and having margin. Small flowers appear in summer and fruits in winter. The plant climbing on a neem tree is considered to be therapeutically more useful.It is Ant periodic, Antipyretic, Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory. It is a constituent of several compound preparations. It is used in fever, urinary disorders, dyspepsia, and torpidity of the liver, skin diseases, secondary syphilis, rheumatism, constipation, tuberculosis, leprosy and general debility. It is also used in treatment of rheumatism and jaundice. It is a blood purifier and may be useful in AIDS and other immune diseases also. It is also being proposed for cancer patients before and after chemotherapy.It is a very useful treatment for gout and high uric acid.