Tinospora sinensis, gilo, Kattu amirthu

Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr.
Family: Menispermaceae
Synonyms: Campylus sinensis Lour., Cocculus tomentosus Colebr., Menispermum cordifolium Willd., Menispermum malabaricum Lam., Menispermum tomentosum (Colebr.) Roxb., Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers, Tinospora malabarica (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson, Tinospora tomentosa (Colebr.) Hook. f. & Thomson

• Common name: Malabar Gulbel, Chinese tinospora
• Assamese: hoguni-lota
• Chinese: 中华青牛胆 
• Hindi: गिलोय giloy, गुलंचा gulancha, gurch
• Kannada: Sudarsana balli
• Malayalam: Pee-amerdu, Kattu amirthu
• Marathi: gulvel, vhadli-amrutvel
• Nepali: गुरुज Guruj
• Sanskrit: Vatsadani, Sudarsana, Amrta
• Tamil: potchindil
• Telugu: tippatega తిప్పతీగ,

Discription: Leaves 11-14 x 9-11 cm, broadly ovate, apex acuminate, base cordate, 5-7ribbed, scabrous above, densely white tomentose below. Male flowers 3-5 together, pedicelled; sepals 6 in 2 whorls, outer smaller, inner 2 x 1.5 mm, obovate; petals 6 smaller; stamens 6, free, anthers orbicular. Female flowers: sepals and petals similar to male flowers; carpels 3, stigma bilobed, staminodes 6, clavate. Drupe 8 mm long, 1 or 2 together, ovoid, red, glabrous.

Used in Ayurveda and Sidha. Tonic, immunostimulant, antiinflammatory, antiallergic, antimalarial, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, nutrient, used for treating arthritis and chronic rheumatism, good revitalizer for old age diseases, increases appetite  and  digestion  for  elderly.  Stems  for  treating  bronchitis,  asthma,  piles,  ulcerated  wounds,  liver  complaints, chronic rheumatism and also as muscle relaxant; stem juice febrifuge. Leaf extract used as ear drop.

48 Published articles of Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr.