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This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Tinospora sinensis (known as 'Lezhe' in Tibetan medicine) is a medicinal plant used traditionally for inflammatory, rheumatic, and aging diseases [PMID:38546704, 39245241].
Background
Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr. is a medicinal vine widely distributed in China, India, and Sri Lanka [PMID:38546704]. It is a key component of traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) and is sometimes used as a substitute for Tinospora cordifolia [PMID:36267280, 20390090].
Traditional uses
It is used for the treatment of rheumatic arthralgia, sciatica, lumbar muscle strain, bruises, and aging diseases [PMID:38546704, 39245241]. In Tibetan medicine, it is valued for clearing heat, removing toxicity, and calming and soothing the nerves [PMID:39245241, 32389853].
Active compounds
The plant contains terpenes (including clerodane diterpenoids), lignans, alkaloids (such as berberine and tinosporine), phenol glycosides, polyphenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides [PMID:38546704, 36267280, 20390090, 29773388].
Mechanism of action
Mechanisms include the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression via NF-κB and MAPK pathways [PMID:36267280], regulation of the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway in neuroinflammation [PMID:39245241], and modulation of the gut microbiota-metabolome-immunity axis [PMID:40300353]. Some components also inhibit α-glucosidase and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) [PMID:35478401, 34627118].
Clinical evidence
Evidence CRheumatoid Arthritis
Tinospora sinensis is identified as one of 27 species effective in treating RA within the TTM system [PMID:36267280]. Tinosporine derived from the plant ameliorated joint damage and inflammation in collagen-induced arthritis rat models [PMID:40300353].
Evidence DNeuroinflammation / Parkinson's Disease
Stem extracts alleviated LPS-induced neuroinflammation in mice [PMID:39245241] and demonstrated neuroprotective capabilities against rotenone-induced motor impairments and oxidative stress in rat models [PMID:42287110].
Evidence DLiver Injury
Tinospora sinensis was evaluated for hepatoprotective potential against alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats [PMID:28646813].
Evidence DColorectal Cancer
Alkaloid-rich extracts from the root induced death in HCT-116 colon cancer cells via ROS-mediated, mTOR-dependent apoptosis [PMID:36737760].
Safety & adverse effects
While Tinospora sinensis is used traditionally, a related species, Tinospora cordifolia, has been linked to cases of drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis [PMID:36400639].
Drug interactions
In vitro studies investigated the potential for T. sinensis to activate the pregnane X-receptor (PXR) and modulate the CYP3A4 isozyme, which are relevant to herb-drug interactions [PMID:35245632].
Evidence summary
The evidence consists primarily of in vitro studies and animal models (Level D) and literature reviews (Level C). There are no human RCTs or meta-analyses provided in the abstracts.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 36400639 (2023) — Can Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), a well-known ayurvedic hepato-protectant cause liver damage? · Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
2.PMID: 36267280 (2022) — Traditional Tibetan medicine: therapeutic potential in rheumatoid arthritis. · Frontiers in pharmacology
3.PMID: 38546704 (2024) — A Review on Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Clinical Application of Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr. · Chemistry & biodiversity
4.PMID: 39245241 (2025) — Extract of Tinospora sinensis alleviates LPS-induced neuroinflammation in mice by regulating TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
— Probing PXR activation and modulation of CYP3A4 by Tinospora crispa and Tinospora sinensis.
· Journal of ethnopharmacology
6.PMID: 40300353 (2025) — Tinosporine alleviates collagen-induced arthritis in rats via modulating the gut microbiota-metabolome-immunity axis. · International immunopharmacology
7.PMID: 36069750 (2023) — Constituents of Tinospora sinensis and their nitric oxide inhibitory activities. · Journal of Asian natural products research
8.PMID: 35478401 (2022) — Clerodane furanoditerpenoids from the stems of Tinospora sinensis. · Archives of pharmacal research
9.PMID: 41759596 (2026) — α-Glucosidase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities of components from Tinospora sinensis. · Fitoterapia
10.PMID: 35519134 (2020) — Lignans and clerodane diterpenoids from Tinospora sinensis. · RSC advances
11.PMID: 36737760 (2023) — Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merr alkaloid rich extract induces colon cancer cell death via ROS mediated, mTOR dependent apoptosis pathway: "an in-vitro study". · BMC complementary medicine and therapies
12.PMID: 39122119 (2024) — Targeted discovery of clerodane diterpenoids from Tinospora sinensis as immunomodulatory agents. · Fitoterapia
13.PMID: 32168549 (2020) — Comparative Morpho-Anatomical and HPTLC Profiling of Tinospora Species and Dietary Supplements. · Planta medica
14.PMID: 34247773 (2021) — Lignans with NO inhibitory activity from Tinospora sinensis. · Chinese journal of natural medicines
15.PMID: 20390090 (2008) — HPLC Estimation of berberine in Tinospora cordifolia and Tinospora sinensis. · Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
16.PMID: 25141544 (2014) — Comparative immunomodulation potential of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers ex Hook. F., Tinospora sinensis (Lour.) Merrill and Tinospora cordifolia growing on Azadirachta indica A. Juss. · Indian journal of experimental biology
17.PMID: 41221477 (2025) — The complete chloroplast genome of Tinospora sinensis and its phylogenetic analysis. · Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources
18.PMID: 28646813 (2017) — Hepatoprotective Activity of Satwa, an Ayurvedic Formulation, Against Alcohol-induced Liver Injury in Rats. · Alternative therapies in health and medicine
19.PMID: 42009115 (2026) — Chemical constituents from the stems of Tinospora sinensis and their anti-inflammatory activities. · Phytochemistry
20.PMID: 34627118 (2021) — Diterpenoid glucosides with cystathionine γ-lyase inhibitory activity from Tinospora sinensis. · Bioorganic chemistry
21.PMID: 42287110 (2026) — Decoding the neuroprotective secrets of Tinospora sinensis: navigating the rotenone induced storm of behavioral and biochemical challenges in Parkinson's disease rat models. · Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
22.PMID: 36360279 (2022) — Molecular Characterization of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers Using Novel g-SSR Markers and Their Comparison with EST-SSR and SCoT Markers for Genetic Diversity Study. · Genes
23.PMID: 31247217 (2019) — A sesquiterpene glycoside and phenylalanine derivatives from Tinospora sinensis. · Fitoterapia
24.PMID: 30339924 (2018) — New terpenoid and phenylpropanoid glycosides from Tinospora sinensis. · Fitoterapia
25.PMID: 12576203 (2003) — Anti-inflammatory activity of Chinese medicinal vine plants. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
26.PMID: 39702870 (2024) — Variations in metabolite fingerprints of Tinospora species targeting metabolic disorders: an integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology approach. · Metabolomics : Official journal of the Metabolomic Society
27.PMID: 32389853 (2020) — Network pharmacology-based strategy to investigate pharmacological mechanisms of Tinospora sinensis for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
28.PMID: 30301176 (2018) — Chemical Constituents from the Stems of Tinospora sinensis and Their Bioactivity. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
29.PMID: 29773388 (2018) — A unique polysaccharide containing 3-O-methylarabinose and 3-O-methylgalactose from Tinospora sinensis. · Carbohydrate polymers
30.PMID: 28358196 (2017) — Clerodane Diterpenoid Glucosides from the Stems of Tinospora sinensis. · Journal of natural products