Important Facts For Prelims
Giloy or Guduchi
- 09 Oct 2021
- 2 min read
Why in News
According to the Ministry of AYUSH, Giloy or Guduchi, a popularly known herb is safe to use.
- However, similar looking plants in circulation such as Tinospora crispa can be harmful. Tinospora crispa is a medicinal plant belonging to the botanical family Menispermaceae and is widely distributed in Southeast Asia and the northeastern region of India.
Key Points
- Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) is a climbing shrub that grows on other trees, from the botanical family Menispermaceae.
- It is an essential herb in Ayurvedic medicine and all its parts are thought to have health benefits.
- People have long used it to treat a wide range of issues, including fever, infections, diarrhoea and diabetes.
- Guduchi’s hepato-protective properties are well established and is known for its immense therapeutic applications and the practices are regulated in accordance with various applicable provisions.
- Hepatoprotection or anti hepatotoxicity is the ability of a chemical substance to prevent damage to the liver.
- The plant is native to India but also found in China and tropical areas of Australia and Africa.
- The Ministry of AYUSH has a well-established system of Pharmacovigilance (for reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions from AYUSH medication), with its network spreading across all over India.
