Tinospora Cordifolia: Immune Boosting Plant Could Fight Cancer

The stem, bark and roots of a rare, succulent, climbing shrub that grows predominantly in India are currently causing a great deal of excitement among cancer researchers.

While its cancer-fighting properties are only just being investigated, Tinospora Cordifolia also known as guduchi or heartleaf moonseed has long been used by Ayurvedic (ancient Indian) practitioners to treat everything from fever and inflammation to diabetes, jaundice and joint pains. It is even sometimes used as an antidote to snake bites and scorpion stings.

Tinospora is what is known as a Rasayana by traditional healers, who credit it with being able to reduce stress, increase vitality and even slow down the ageing process.

It is hardly surprising that tinospora has so many therapeutic properties given its seemingly endless list of beneficial, active ingredients these include sesquiterpenes, sterols, diterpenes, giloin, gilenin, and gilosterol, together with columbin, chasmanthin, and palmarin.

Tinospora helps strengthen your bodys natural defences

While investigating tinosporas medicinal properties, US scientists from the Miami Childrens Hospital recently found that the plant is able to strengthen the immune system. Their research revealed that it is able to do this by stimulating the action of macrophages, special cells that make up an important part of your body's defence system because of their ability to identify and destroy any infectious bacteria that may be present in your blood.

In addition, the researchers found that the plant reduces the production of a chemical called Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF), which causes inflammation and your cells to die prematurely (Ref. 1). This finding helps validate the use of tinospora in Ayurvedic medicine to treat inflammatory disorders like arthritis.

Indian scientists have found that tinospora stimulates other important immune cells such as neutrophils like macrophages, they also seek out and destroy infectious bugs in your body (Ref. 2).

Another way the plant works to fortify the immune system is by regulating the activity of cytokines these proteins play a crucial role in an immune response and have the power to stimulate or inhibit cell activation, proliferation and differentiation. Tinospora increases the production of cytokines when needed and decreases them when theyre not, which helps improve overall health and keeps illness at bay (Ref. 3).

An important breakthrough in the fight against cancer

Tinosporas incredible immune-boosting properties, is one of the reasons why it is so effective against cancer. A strong immune system is better able to identify any cancerous cells and eliminate them before they have a chance to grown and spread.

But the plants anti-cancer benefits dont end there. For example, Indian scientists from the Department of Radiobiology, Kasturba Medical College, have revealed that tinospora extracts contain a chemical called dichloromethane, which is known to poison and kill cancerous cells (Ref. 4).

The scientists found that the plant is particularly effective against cancer of the liver. In an animal experiment, they found that the survival rate of mice with liver cancer who received tinospora extracts was improved by a staggering 100 per cent meaning that the mice with cancer enjoyed the same life expectancy as healthy mice (Ref. 5).

This finding was backed up by another group of scientists who reported that tinospora administration retarded tumour growth and prolonged survival of tumour-bearing mice (Ref. 6).

In separate research, scientists have found that extracts from the root of the plant contain potent cancer-fighting antioxidants such as catalase, glutathione and superoxide dismutase (Ref. 7).

A useful brain tonic and memory-booster that helps ward off Alzheimers

The latest exciting research findings have revealed yet another health-related benefit attached to tinospora: an ability to boost memory and learning. Academics from the Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, in Bangalore, India, recently found that the stem of the plant is able to block an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, which destroys the brain chemical acetylcholine an important neurotransmitter that carries messages from one part of your brain to another and which assists memory and cognition.

This action is extremely important as many Alzheimers patients have been found to have elevated levels of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, resulting in very low levels of the memory-booster acetylcholine (Ref. 8).

In addition, tinosporas antioxidant properties are not limited to simply providing cancer protection, as mentioned above, but can also guard your brain against harmful toxins. Scientists have found that tinospora is also able to protect the hippocampus an important part of your brain that is involved in memory (Ref. 9).

What to take for best results

As a tincture (i.e. mixed with small amounts of alcohol) the recommended dosage for Tinospora is 2-4 ml taken twice a day. However, you should be aware that this dosage amount is intended to be used as a guide only, and it is important that you follow the manufacturers dosage instructions on each individual product, as these can vary.

There are no known contraindications or side effects, although pregnant women and nursing mothers are advised not to take tinospora, as its safety has not been confirmed in these areas.

References

1. Int Immunopharmacol. 2006 Dec 5;6(12):1815-24
2. Indian J Exp Biol. 2006 Sep;44(9):726-32
3. Altern Med Rev. 2006;11(2):128-50
4. Altern Med. 2006 Jun;3(2):267-72
5. Biol Pharm Bull. 2006 Mar;29(3):460-6
6. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2005;27(4):585-99
7. Phytomedicine. 2006 Jan;13(1-2):74-84
8. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007;109(2):359-63
9. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004;324(2):588-96