In News:

Giloy, also known as Guduchi and referred to as Amrita in Sanskrit—meaning the "herb of immortality"—is gaining global attention for its therapeutic potential, with scientific research on the herb witnessing a remarkable surge.

Surge in Scientific Publications

According to PubMed, a globally recognised biomedical database, there has been a 376.5% increase in research publications on Giloy between 2014 and 2024:

• 2014: 243 studies
• 2024: 913 studies

This significant rise reflects growing interest in natural and plant-based therapies, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, which intensified focus on immunity boosters and holistic healthcare.

Therapeutic Properties and Uses

• Giloy is used in Ayush systems for:
  • Fever management
  • Gouty arthritis
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Inflammatory disorders
  • Cancer therapy (emerging evidence)
• Bioactive compounds in Giloy have shown:
  • Immunomodulatoryeffects
  • Anti-inflammatoryaction
  • Adaptogenicandantiviralproperties

Botanical & Agricultural Features

• Scientific name: Tinosporacordifolia
• Distribution: Widely found across India
• Growth conditions:
  • Grows in most soil types
  • Propagated via stem cuttings (May–June)
  • Large climber with corky, grooved stems

Recent Research Highlights

• Feb 2025 (Gujarat University): Giloy extracts showed promise in HPV-positive cervical cancer treatment through immunomodulation.
• Jan 2025 (Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai): Giloy-based phytopharmaceuticals were effective in managing Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis (IGM), offering a safe, steroid-free, and cost-effective alternative to surgery.

Government Initiatives

• The Ministry of Ayush has launched a technical dossier on Giloy, compiling scientific research and therapeutic insights.
• Aim: Promote evidence-based integration of Ayurveda with modern healthcare systems.
• Emphasis on global collaboration, research funding, and mainstreaming traditional medicine.