Quality control assessment of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. (Menispermaceae) phyto-physicochemical and pharmacognostical profile

Herbal drugs have been used as medicines for the treatment of a range of diseases since ancient times. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers commonly known as Amrita or Guduchi is an important drug of Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM). The drug is used in the treatment of fever, diabetes, jaundice, urinary problems, skin diseases and dysentery. Pharmacognostical standardization of dried and matured pieces of stem of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. was done in the present study. The study includes macroscopic and microscopic evaluation along with its physicochemical parameters estimation like ash and extractive values and preliminary phytochemical screening. Quantification of some of the active constituents like terpenoids and alkaloids was also included in the study. The present study discloses the quality profile for drug like Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.), which would be of massive value in identification and confirmation of plant drug and may help us in avoiding its adulteration.