Ayurvedic herb Guduchi doesn’t cause liver damage: Govt

The Ministry of Ayush, which regulates the Ayurvedic and other traditional forms of medicine, has clarified that Guduchi doesn’t cause any toxic effect.

The Ministry has issued a clarification after a section of media reported that it can cause liver damage due to its toxic effect on the human body.

In its statement, the Ministry said, “Certain sections of the media have falsely linked again Giloy/Guduchi to liver damage. The Ministry of Ayush reiterates that Giloy/Gudduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is safe and as per available data, Guduchi does not produce any toxic effect.”

It added, “In Ayurveda, it is said to be the best rejuvenating herb. Acute toxicity studies of aqueous extract of Guduchi reports that it does not produce any toxic effect. However, the safety of a drug depends on how it is being used. Dosage is one of the important factors that determine the safety of a particular drug. In a study, lower concentration of Guduchi powder is found to increase the life span of fruit flies (Drosophila Melanogaster).”

The Ministry further clarifies that at the same time, higher concentration progressively reduced the life span of flies.

“This clearly indicates that an optimum dosage should be maintained in order to get the desired effects. This infers that the medicinal herb has to be used in an appropriate dose as prescribed by a qualified physician to get medicinal effects,” it said.

“With the wide range of actions and abundant components, Guduchi is a real treasure among herbal drug source. Medicinal applications of Guduchi in countering various disorders and it's use as anti-oxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, osteoprotective, radioprotective, anti-anxiety, adaptogenic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-diarrheal, anti-ulcer, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer have been well established,” the Ministry added.