Common Name:

General Information

Tinospora bakis is a deciduous climbing shrub producing stems up to 10 metres long that twine around other plants for support[].
The root has a high reputation locally as a medicinal plant, and is often gathered from the wild[]. It is commonly sold in local markets[].

Known Hazards

The root can produce toxic effects, including vomiting and depression of the respiratory centre[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - drier areas from Mauritania and Senegal to Somalia and south to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Habitat

Deciduous bushland; semi-desert scrub; dunes; forest gaps; at elevations from sea level to 1,100 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The woody part of the root has a high reputation as a diuretic and febrifuge, whilst it is also considered to be cholagogue and emmenagogue[]. It should be used with caution, however, since high doses can be toxic[].
The root is used particularly in the treatment of various liver and gall bladder problems, such as jaundice, haematuria, bilious fever and yellow fever[]. It is also used in treating malaria since it is better tolerated than quinine; in the treatment of schistosomiasis; and to stop gonorrhoeal discharge[].
Applied externally, the decoction is used to treat various skin problems[].

The leaves are cholagogue, diuretic and a general tonic[].

The root has been shown to contain a number of active compounds including the alkaloids palmatine, and 2 - 4% columbin[].
An aqueous extract of the root containing the alkaloid fraction showed moderate activity against a chloroquine-resistant strain of the malaria-causing protozoa Plasmodium falciparum in vitro[].
A syrup made from an aqueous root extract has been shown to induce a significant increase of biliary secretion[].
Columbin, in small doses, was found to increase the secretion of the bile and the glands of the stomach and intestines; at higher doses it produced greasy degeneration of the liver[].
Palmatine shows a stronger antipyretic effect than a total alkaloid extract. It paralyses the respiratory centre more than morphine[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Some species in this genus are the larval hosts of fruit-piercing noctuid moths that cause significant damage to crops
of Citrus (particularly Mandarins) and Dimocarpus longan (Longan) in Thailand[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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