Guduchi (Giloy)
Tinospora cordifolia
Other names: Guduchi (गुडूची), Giloy, Amrita, heart-leaved moonseed, Guduchi (Giloy)
Photo credit: Tmd at Thai Wikipedia
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
Safety information
Toxicity: Potentially SERIOUS — reported drug-induced liver injury / autoimmune-like hepatitis associated with Guduchi supplements during/after COVID-19 in India. Causation debated (some attributed to adulteration with toxic T. crispa), but hepatotoxicity signal is real.
Contraindications: Autoimmune disease (immunostimulant); pre-existing liver disease; pregnancy (insufficient data — avoid); before surgery.
Interactions: Immunosuppressants (antagonism), antidiabetics (additive hypoglycemia), hepatotoxic drugs (additive).
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Insufficient data — avoid.
Evidence level
Supported by clinical trials in humans.
Preparations
This plant carries serious safety risks. All information is for educational reference only.
stem decoction/juice (swarasa) · stem
Part used: stem
Traditional use: immunomodulator, Rasayana, antipyretic, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective
Proposed mechanism: Alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones (tinosporside), polysaccharides — immunomodulatory/antipyretic/antidiabetic (preclinical); hepatotoxic signal linked to immune-mediated injury and/or species adulteration
Dosage note (descriptive only): Fresh stem juice, decoction, or satva in gram-scale; liver-injury reports involved self-directed supplement use; no how-to dosing given hepatotoxicity signal
Reference only — not a dosage instruction
Associated conditions
Nutritional notes
N/A; bioactives include alkaloids, diterpenoids (tinosporside).
Healing traditions
Sources (4)
- Yates 2022, J Diet Suppl (PMID 33480818)
- Nnamani 2023, Cureus (PMID 37273324)
- Andrade 2023, J Hepatol (PMID 37164270)
- Panneer Selvam 2023, J Ayurveda Integr Med (PMID 36400639)