This document summarizes information about the plant Galo (Tinospora cordifolia). It describes the plant parts used, names in different languages, biological source, distribution, macroscopic and microscopic features. It also discusses the method of preparation of Guduchi satva from the plant, its chemical constituents including alkaloids, and common uses such as for rejuvenation and as an immunomodulator, blood purifier, and to treat cancer and heart conditions. Marketed formulations containing Galo are also listed.

1. P R E P A R E D B Y
J A N H A V I S O D H A
S E M – 7 , A P I P J A M N A G A R
G U I D E B Y : M R S . P O O J A K H A N P A R A
GALO

2.  Plant Part Used : stem
 Synonyms : Heartleaved Moonseed , Guduchi.
 Common Vernacular Names
 1) Sanskrit : Anirtavalf , Amrta , Madlitiparni ,
Guducika
 2) Gujarati : Galac , Garo .
 3) Hindi : Giloe , Gurcha .
 4) Kannada : Amrutaballi .

3. Biological source : It is consist of dried , matured
pieces of stem of Tinospora cordifolia Miers.
Family : Menispermaceae.
Distribution : It is an herbaceous vine and
indigenous to the tropical areas of India , Myanmar ,
Shrilanka.
The plant is a glabrous climbing shrub found
throughout India , typically growing in deciduous
and dry forests.

4. Macroscopy
Leaves are heart shaped .
The succulent bark is creamy white to grey with deep
clefts spotted with lenticels.
 flowers are yellow
Fruits are turning red when ripe
Young stems are green in colour
 Stem surfaces are smooth .
Bitter in taste.

6. Microscopy

7.  Cork : 5 to 6 layers thick walled tangentionally
elongated cells with brownish pigments.
 Cortex : It consists of 3 to 5 layers of regularly
arranged cells of chlorenchyama and the inner side
cells are polygonal parenchyma which starch grains .
 Pericycle : 7 to 9 layers of lignified
sclerenchymatous cells , forming a continuous circle
of arches.
 Medullary rays : they are 2 to 8 seriate , 10to12 in
number , extended from pith to the cortex .

8.  Vascular bundles : 16-20 open and collateral.
Consist of :
 1) Phloem : Appear like caps over the metaxylem.
Calcium oxalate crystals present .
 2) Cambium : strip of thin wallled cambium cell.
 3) Xylem : Wedge shaped patches separated by
multiseriate medullary rays . Large number of
lignified pitted xylem vessels. Xylem parenchyma ,
tracheids and xylem fibres are comparatively less.

9. METHOD OF PREPARATION
 Guduchi satva is prepared from root braches and
stem pieces of Tinospora cordifolia .
 Upper thin skin is removed and bruished in stone or
in wooden mortar and ground to paste , soaked in
water for 6-12 hours.
 Material is mashed , rubbed, squeezed and separated
from the fluid by straining later through cloth.
 The fluid is evaporated in the sun and the residue is
genuine “Guduchi Satva”

10. CHENICAL CONSTITUENTS
Columbin , tinosporaside , tetrahydrofuran
Alkaloids like palmatine , berberine , jactrorhizine
,tembeterine.
Tinocordifolioside , cordifolioside A and B
Tinosporic acid , tinosporal , tinosporone.

11. COMMON USE
 Rejuvinator
 Immunodulator
 Astringent
 Antipyretic
 Blood purifier
 Antineoplatic
 Cardiotonic
 Antiasthanatic
 Also use in skin diseases , gout ,rheumatic arthritis.

12. Marketed formulations
 Guduchi tablet
 Abana bomnisan
 Rumalaya