Fifty years of research on Tinospora cordifolia: From botanical plant to functional ingredient in foods

A study on incorporation of giloy (Tinosporacordifolia) for the development of shelf-stable goat milk based functional beverage

Goat milk has achieved significant place in human diet owing to its enormous therapeutic properties. There exists a scope of value-addition of goat milk to potentiate its health benefits by incorporating herbs and plants. Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), a traditional medicinal plant with rich bioactive composition, can enhance the bioactive properties and shelf-life of goat milk. To this end, a study was conducted to develop shelf-stable giloy-goat milk beverage (GGB) by adding debittered giloy juice to goat milk (GM) and analyse the detailed product profile including proximate composition, bioactive properties, sensory, rheological, and structural characterisation. GGB resulted in two-fold increase (P < 0.05) in antioxidant activity and total phenolic content, thus enhancing the bioactive properties of the beverage as compared to GM. Further, increase in the particle size of GGB was observed along with components interaction, which was confirmed by FTIR, scanning electron and fluorescent microscopy. Storage stability studies indicated that bioactive properties of GGB remained unaffected (P > 0.05) by the sterilization process up to 90 days and sensory characteristics were not compromised till 105 days of storage. Therefore, the developed GGB is considered to be a shelf-stable beverage that retains its bioactive and sensory properties even after sterilization, making it a promising functional dairy product.

Graphical abstract

Unveiling Various Facades of Tinospora cordifolia Stem in Food: Medicinal and Nutraceutical Aspects

Natural products with curative properties are gaining immense popularity in scientific and food research, possessing no side effects in contrast to other drugs. Guduchi, or Tinospora cordifolia, belongs to the menispermaceae family of universal drugs used to treat various diseases in traditional Indian literature. It has received attention in recent decades because of its utilization in folklore medicine for treating several disorders. Lately, the findings of active phytoconstituents present in herbal plants and their pharmacological function in disease treatment and control have stimulated interest in plants around the world. Guduchi is ethnobotanically used for jaundice, diabetes, urinary problems, stomachaches, prolonged diarrhea, skin ailments, and dysentery. The treatment with Guduchi extracts was accredited to phytochemical constituents, which include glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, and diterpenoid lactones. This review places emphasis on providing in-depth information on the budding applications of herbal medicine in the advancement of functional foods and nutraceuticals to natural product researchers.

Neuroprotective Effects of Tinospora cordifolia via Reducing the Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction against Rotenone-Induced PD Mice

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are leading mechanisms that play a crucial role in the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Tinospora cordifolia shows a wide range of biological activities including immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study explored the neuroprotective activities of T. cordifolia ethanolic extract (TCE) against Rotenone (ROT)-intoxicated Parkinsonian mice. Four experimental groups of mice were formed: control, ROT (2 mg/kg body wt, subcutaneously), TCE (200 mg/kg body wt, oral) + ROT, and TCE only. Mice were pretreated with TCE for a week and then simultaneously injected with ROT for 35 days. Following ROT-intoxication, motor activities, antioxidative potential, and mitochondrial dysfunction were analyzed. Decrease in the activity of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC) complex, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm), increase in Bax/Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) ratio, and caspase-3 expression are observed in the ROT-intoxicated mice group. Our results further showed ROT-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated alpha-synuclein (α-syn) accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, pre- and cotreatment with TCE along with ROT-intoxication significantly reduced α-syn aggregation and improved mitochondrial functioning in cells by altering mitochondrial potential and increasing mETC activity. TCE also decreases the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and also the expression of caspase-3, thus reducing apoptosis of the cell. Altogether, TCE is effective in protecting neurons from rotenone-induced cytotoxicity in the Parkinsonian mouse model by modulating oxidative stress, ultimately reducing mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death.

A novel role of Tinospora cordifolia in amelioration of cancer-induced systemic deterioration by taming neutrophil infiltration and hyperactivation

BACKGROUND

Cancer has emerged as a systemic disease which targets various organs thus challenging the overall physiology of the host. Recently, we have shown that hyperactive neutrophils infiltrate various organs of tumor bearing host and contribute to gradual systemic deterioration. Therefore, taming neutrophils via potent immunomodulators could be an appropriate therapeutic approach in regulating systemic damage. Tinospora cordifolia (TC), an Ayurvedic panacea, is known for its immense medicinal values in traditional literature and recent reports have also documented its immunomodulatory potential. However, whether TC can regulate neutrophils to exert its therapeutic effectiveness has not been deciphered so far.

METHODS

For the in vivo study, we utilized murine model of Dalton's Lymphoma (DL). T. cordifolia extract (TCE) treatment was scheduled at early, mid and advanced stages of tumor growth at a dose of 400 mg/kg b.w for 30 consecutive days. Effect of TCE on neutrophil infiltration was examined by immunostaining. Neutrophil elastase (NE) level in serum, ascitic fluid and various tissues was monitored by ELISA. Further, qPCR was performed to assess transcripts levels of NE, myeloperoxidase (MPO), metalloproteinases (MMP-8, MMP-9) and cathepsin G (CSTG) in various tissues. ROS level in tissue was assessed by DHE staining and organ function was assessed by histology post TCE treatment.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that TC treatment significantly reduced neutrophil count in peripheral blood and their infiltration in vital organs of tumor-bearing host. Further, it ameliorated neutrophil hyperactivation by down regulating the expression of its key cargoes including NE, MPO, MMP-8, MMP-9 and CSTG at early and mid stage of tumor growth. In addition, TC treatment prevented histopathological alterations and restored the normal serum enzyme levels at different stages of tumor growth. Importantly, TC treatment also showed significant reduction in tumor burden which was accompanied by a remarkable increase in survival of the tumor-bearing mice.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that T. cordifolia could limit systemic damage via regulating neutrophil infiltration and hyperactivation which can further lead to cancer control at both prophylactic and therapeutic level.

Influence of processing and packaging conditions on probiotic survivability rate, physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of low calorie synbiotic milk beverage

The work presented in this research communication was carried out to prepare low calorie synbiotic milk beverage by optimizing water and sugar level and to investigate the effect on its storage ability of different packaging materials (polypropylene, high impact polystyrene, high-density polyethylene and glass). Addition of both water and sugar significantly (P < 0.05) affected the viscosity, probiotic count and sensory properties. Based on the findings, 40% water and 8% sugar level were optimized for the preparation of the beverage. Apparent viscosity and acidity increased whilst pH and probiotic counts declined during storage, irrespective of packaging materials. The prepared beverage remained most acceptable at refrigeration temperature up to a period of 15 and 12 d when packaged in glass and high impact polystyrene, respectively. Furthermore, it retained a minimum recommended level of probiotic (7 log cfu/ml) during storage for 15 d at 4 °C.