Andrographis paniculata

The plant grows as an erect herb to a height of 30–110 cm (12–43 in) in moist, shady places. The slender stem is dark green, square in cross-section with longitudinal furrows and wings along the angles. The lance-shaped leaves have hairless blades measuring up to 8 cm (3.1 in) long by 2.5 cm (0.98 in). The small flowers are pink, solitary, arranged in lax spreading racemes or panicles. The fruit is a capsule around 2 cm (0.79 in) long and a few millimeters wide.[5] It contains many yellow-brown seeds. The seeds are subquadrate, rugose and glabrous. The flowering time is September to December.[6]

The species is distributed in tropical Asian countries, often in isolated patches. It can be found in a variety of habitats, such as plains, hillsides, coastlines, and disturbed and cultivated areas such as roadsides and farms. Native populations of A. paniculata are spread throughout south India and Sri Lanka which perhaps represent the center of origin and diversity of the species. The herb is an introduced species in northern parts of India, Java, Malaysia, Indonesia, the West Indies, and elsewhere in the Americas. The species also occurs in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, and other parts of Asia where it may or may not be native. The plant is cultivated in many areas, as well.

Unlike other species of the genus, A. paniculata is of common occurrence in most places in India, including the plains and hilly areas up to 500 m (1,600 ft), which accounts for its wide use.

In India the major source of plant is procured from its wild habitat. The plant is categorised as Low Risk or of Least Concern by the IUCN. Under the trade name Kalmegh, on average 2,000–5,000 tonnes (2,200–5,500 tons) of the plant is traded in India.[7]

The plant does best in a sunny location. The seeds are sown during May and June (northern hemisphere). The seedlings are transplanted at a distance of 60 cm (24 in) x 30 cm (12 in).

A. paniculata has been used in Siddha and Ayurvedic medicine,[8] and is promoted as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and cure. There is no evidence that it helps prevent or cure cancer.[9]

In the traditional medicine of India, A. paniculata has also been used for jaundice therapy.[10]

A 2012 review found that A. paniculata extracts could inhibit expression of several cytochrome C enzymes and thus interfere with metabolism of other pharmaceuticals.[11] A 2019 review finds that A. paniculata compounds have poor solubility and relatively low potency, and that a semi-synthetic injectable derivative can cause sometimes life-threatening allergic reactions.[12]

A 2017 meta-analysis evaluating Andrographis paniculata to treat respiratory tract infections was inconclusive because the trials reviewed were of poor quality.[13]

A 2020 study found that Andrographis permitted chemosensitization of chemosensitive colorectal cancer cells. Two major pathways were altered by the Andrographis. One is the ferroptosis pathway, the other is the β-catenin/Wnt-signaling pathway.[14]

Amid flareup of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in December 2020 in Thailand, the country’s health ministry had approved the usage of the plant extract for a pilot and alternative treatment program for early stages of the coronavirus infection to reduce the severity of the outbreak and cut treatment costs. The treatment was initially made available in five state-owned hospital on a voluntary basis for those in the age group of 18 to 60 years old with minor symptoms and should be within 72 hours of confirmed infections. The ministry cited that the plant extract can curb virus and reduce severity of inflammation, of which at the time, human trials showed patient conditions improved within three days of the treatment without side effects if the medicine is administered within the said confirmed infections hours. [15]

Andrographolide is the major constituent extracted from the leaves of the plant and is a bicyclic diterpenoid lactone. This bitter principle was isolated in pure form by Gorter (1911). Systematic studies on chemistry of A. paniculata have been carried out.[16][17]

Some known constituents and are:

• 14-Deoxy-11-dehydroandrographolide, Plant
• 14-Deoxy-11-oxoandrographolide, Plant
• 5-Hydroxy-7,8,2',3'-Tetramethoxyflavone, Plant
• 5-Hydroxy-7,8,2'-Trimethoxyflavone, Tissue Culture
• Andrographine, Root
• Andrographolide, Plant
• Neoandrographolide, Plant
• Panicoline, Root
• Paniculide-A, Plant
• Paniculide-B, Plant
• Paniculide-C, Plant[18]

• List of ineffective cancer treatments
• Xiyanping

• Coon, JT; Ernst, E (2004). "Andrographis paniculatain the Treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review of Safety and Efficacy". Planta Medica. 70 (4): 293–8. doi:10.1055/s-2004-818938. PMID 15095142.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andrographis paniculata.

• Andrographis (www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au)
• Dr. Duke's Database
• Caldecott, Todd (2006). Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life. Elsevier/Mosby. ISBN 978-0-7234-3410-8. Contains a detailed monograph on Andrographis paniculatus (Bhunimba) as well as a discussion of health benefits and usage in clinical practice. Available online at https://web.archive.org/web/20110519163542/http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-herbs/390-bhunimba
• Akbar, S (2011). "Andrographis paniculata: A review of pharmacological activities and clinical effects" (PDF). Alternative Medicine Review. 16 (1): 66–77. PMID 21438648.
• Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) (in Chinese) (in English)
• 穿心蓮, Common Andrographis Herb, Chuan Xin Lian Chinese Medicine Specimen Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) (in Chinese) (in English)
• Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews