Morphology, Biological Activity, Chemical Composition, and Medicinal Value of Tinospora Cordifolia (willd.) Miers

This review aims to highlight the morphology, taxonomy, and biological activities of Tinospora cordifolia along with its ethnobotanical uses and its micropropagation techniques. Relating to the global pandemic, this review introduces a comprehensive update of COVID-19 scientific reports on T. cordifolia as an indispensable herb. This study also explores the nutritional values and elemental composition from proximate analysis along with its phytochemical and medicinal properties. T. cordifolia is a medicinal plant widely used for the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes and jaundice. This plant is mainly found in the southern part of Asia and is locally known as Gurjo or Guduchi. T. cordifolia exists in the form of a glabrous, ascending shrub belonging to the Menispermaceae family. Owing to its commercial importance, it has been of considerable interest in research in recent decades, incorporating a wide range of pharmacological properties, such as antidiabetic, immunomodulation, antioxidant, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and hypoglycemic values. These properties are enhanced by the presence of diverse compounds such as alkaloids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, phenolics, glycosides, steroids, and polysaccharides, aliphatic, and other miscellaneous compounds. This review provides new details that can facilitate the careful assessment of the plant as a therapeutic agent against emerging diseases. It also offers insights to the researchers involved in validating traditional claims to develop safe and efficient herbal medicines to several diseases including COVID-19.