Anti-dengue therapeutic potential of Tinospora cordifolia and its bioactives

Dengue is one of the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral infections. Moreover, due to the absence of appropriate curative and preventive measures against it, the mortality rate is increasing alarmingly. However, remarkable docking and clinical advances have been achieved with plant-based natural and conventional therapeutics. Tinospora cordifolia is one of the highly explored panaceas at the local level for its effective anti-dengue formulations.

The present article aims for critical assessment of the data available on the anti-dengue therapeutic use of T. cordifolia. Efforts have also been made on the clinical and in-silico anti-dengue efficacy of this plant. The phytochemistry and the antiviral machinery of the plant are also emphasized.

The present article is the outcome of the literature survey on the anti-dengue effect of T. cordifolia. A literature survey was conducted from 2011 to 2024 using different databases with appropriate keywords.

The present study confirms the anti-dengue potential of T. cordifolia. The plant can suppress the initiation of 'cytokine storm', vascular leakage and inhibition of various structural and NS proteins to exert its anti-dengue potential. Berberine and magnoflorine phytocompounds were highly explored for their anti-dengue potential.

The present study concluded that T. cordifolia serves as an effective therapeutic agent for treating dengue. Further in-silico and clinical studies are needed so that stable, safe and efficacious anti-dengue drug can be developed. Besides, a precise antiviral mechanism of T. cordifolia against DENV infection is still needed.