A clinical analysis of evaluating the usefulness and efficacy of the ayurvedic drug Tinospora cordifolia in humans

Guduchi commonly known as Tinospora cordifolia (TC) is a glabrous climbing shrub of the family, Menispermaceae, indigenous to the tropical areas of India. The active principles of TC possess immunomodulatory activities. A number of studies have been done to evaluate the usefulness of this drug. The present study aimed to evaluate. The multi-potent effect of TC acts as an effective drug for common acute conditions. 25 patients symptomatic with acute conditions like fever, cold, allergy and rhinitis reported at the Ayurveda Clinic of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, Karnataka for the months July and August of 2012. These patients were administered TC extract in capsule form (from the Himalaya Drug Company) as 250 mg/TD for 15 days. Hematological and renal function tests were performed in these patients before and after the administration of TC. There was no complained of any adverse/side effects during and after the period of the drug intake at the given dose and duration. A significant change was observed in Neutrophil, Eosinophil counts and ESR (p value < 0.05) after administration of TC. However, no changes observed in renal function tests. Hence TC can be considered as an Immunomodulatory agent in cases of common acute conditions. It was also observed that TC was effective in relieving the clinical symptoms that the patients reported prior to the administering of TC in cases of Allergic Rhinitis, Cold and fever and thereby boosting their immunity.