Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees

Justicia paniculata Burm.f; and others.

Acanthaceae

Andrographis; green chiretta; Indian echinacea; kalamegha

Andrographis herba

Aerial parts

The main constituents are diterpenes (e.g. andrographic acid, diterpene glucoside (deoxyandrographolide-19-β-d-glucoside) and diterpene dimers (bis-andrographolides A, B, C and D), lactones (andrographolide, kalmeghin, chuanxinlian A (deoxyandrographolide), B (andrographolide), C (neoandrographolide) and D (14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide) and flavonoids (e.g. 5,7,2′,3′-tetramethoxyflavanone and 5-hydroxy-7,2′,3′-trimethoxyflavone) (Akbar 2011).

Two systematic reviews and seven clinical trials (six in adults and one in children) were retrieved for the use of A. paniculata in URTI (Akbar 2011; Kligler et al. 2006). The majority of the clinical trials were conducted using a standardised commercial preparation of A. paniculata extract in a fixed combination with E. senticosus (Kan Jang). The authors concluded that the data available suggests that this herb is effective in reducing the severity and duration of the symptoms in URTI, both in children and adults, but further research is warranted. Another randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted, evaluating the efficacy of a specific extract of A. paniculata (200 mg/day for 5 days), in patients with uncomplicated URTI. The study showed that the extract was effective in reducing the symptoms of URTI (2.1 times or 52.7% higher than placebo with p ≤ 0.05) when quantifying symptom scores of cough, expectoration, nasal discharge, headache, fever, sore throat, earache, malaise/fatigue and sleep disturbance (Saxena et al. 2010).

The exact mechanism of action is unknown, but it may be based either on the anti-inflammatory properties or the immunomodulatory properties of this botanical drug. Extract of A. paniculata and its main component andrographolide enhanced the immune system by increasing the proliferation of lymphocytes and production of interleukin (IL)-2, and inhibited tumour cell proliferation (Kumar et al. 2004; Rajagopal et al. 2003). Andrographolide and neoandrographolide showed significant anti-inflammatory effects in vivo (Liu et al. 2007). Andrographolide and Kan Jang (a standardised fixed combination of A. paniculata extract SHA-10 and E. senticosus extract SHE-3) showed an effect in vitro