Tinospora cordifolia, the heart-leaved moonseed,[1] is a herbaceous vine of the family Menispermaceae native to South and Southeast Asia.

They are ovoid smooth drupelets on thick stalks with sub terminal style scars, scarlet or orange colored.

A recent study has shown that 29 endophytes belonging to different taxa were present in the samples collected from Tinospora cordifolia.

[1][4] Although used in Ayurveda over centuries in the belief that Tinospora has medicinal properties,[5] there is no evidence from reviews of clinical research to indicate that it has any effect.

[1] During the 2020–22 COVID-19 outbreak in India, the Ministry of AYUSH recommended use of T. cordifolia ("giloy") as a home remedy for immune support,[6] but such a practice appeared to be associated with hepatitis cases among six people in Mumbai who used boiled or capsule preparations of the plant.