RESUMO
Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi) is a widely used herb in Ayurvedic system of medicine known to possess immunomodulatory properties. The present study was aimed to study the activation of macrophages after in vitro guduchi treatment. The aqueous extract of T. cordifolia was found to enhance phagocytosis and pinocytosis in vitro. The rate of pinocytosis by macrophages when measured by uptake of horseradish peroxidase was significantly increased after guduchi treatment as compared to medium alone. The macrophages demonstrated an increased phagocytosis to non-infective microorganisms (heat killed yeast) and live infective microorganisms (E. coli) after guduchi treatment. The results demonstrate that Guduchi enhances macrophage activation as analyzed by cytochemical parameters.