The World Most Popular Herbs - Andrographis - Health Benefits and Side Effects

Andrographis paniculata is also known as Andrographis is a herbaceous plant, genus Andrographis, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, native to India and Sri Lanka. It has been used in traditional Siddha and Ayurvedic in treating the common cold, flu, upper respiratory infections, infectious diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, pneumonia, swollen lymph nodes, leprosy, bronchitis, sore throats, tuberculosis, chicken pox, etc.

Health Benefits
1. Rheumatoid arthritis
Andrographolide, a diterpenoid compound extracted from Andrographis have exerted anti-growth and pro-apoptotic effects on RAFLSs, thus may have a potential used in treating RA., accoeding to the study of "Andrographolide induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes" by Yan J, Chen Y, He C, Yang ZZ, Lü C, Chen XS., posted in PubMed(1)

2. Liver protection
Oral administration of A. paniculata or S. chirayita extract, in Swiss albino mice study has demonstrated a property of protection against paracetamols induced hepatotoxicity, by restoring the levels of these parameters to control (untreated) levels, according to the study of "Hepatoprotective activity of AndrographisPaniculata and Swertia Chirayita" by Nagalekshmi R, Menon A, Chandrasekharan DK, Nair CK., posted in PubMed(2)

3. Cancer prevention
Andrographis beside have demonstrated the activity of liver protection, its hydroalcohol extract is also exert the property of against chemotoxicity, including carcinogenicity, according to the study of "Modulatory influence of Andrographispaniculata on mouse hepatic and extrahepatic carcinogen metabolizing enzymes and antioxidant status" by Singh RP, Banerjee S, Rao AR., posted in PubMed(3)

4. Ulcer
hydroalcoholic extract of Andrographis paniculata (HAEAP) have exerted the property of significantly reduced the acidity, pepsin concentration activities, as a result of regulating effect on H(+)K(+)ATPase activity due to the flavonoids presence in the in the gastrointestinal tract, according to the study of "A biochemical study on the gastroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Andrographispaniculata in rats" by Panneerselvam S, Arumugam G., posted in PubMed(4)

5. Cardiovascular effects
Diterpenoids, AP1, AP3, and AP4, isolated from A. paniculata, and different aqueous plant extracts have demonstrated the activities of hypotensive and vasorelaxation effects,
according to the study of "Cardiovascular effects of 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide and Andrographispaniculata extracts" by Yoopan N, Thisoda P, Rangkadilok N, Sahasitiwat S, Pholphana N, Ruchirawat S, Satayavivad J., posted in PubMed(5)

(6) Renoprotective effects
Aqueous extract of A. paniculata have increase in serum creatinine, serum urea, and blood urea nitrogen levels by 176.92%, 106.27%, and 202.90%, respectively, in a gentamicin-induced nephrotoxic model study, that showed a promising result of the extract to be used to protect against kidney diseases, according to the study of "Renoprotective effects of Andrographispaniculata (Burm. f.) Nees in rats" by Singh P, Srivastava MM, Khemani LD., posted in PubMed(6)

(7) Oral Cancer
Andrographolide (Andro) isolated from Andrographis , covalently modifies reduced cysteine(62) in the oligonucleotide binding pocket of p50 for inhibition of NF-κB activation, that helps deactivate the pathogenesis of chemically induced squamous cell carcinoma, according to the study of "Andrographolide Inhibits Oral Squamous Cell Carcinogenesis through NF-{kappa}B Inactivation" by Wang LJ, Zhou X, Wang W, Tang F, Qi CL, Yang X, Wu S, Lin YQ, Wang JT, Geng JG., posted in PubMed(7)

8. Psychopharmacological effects
The extract have shown a activity of producing a prolongation of the pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time and lowered the body temperaturem according to the study of "Studies on psychopharmacological activity of Andrographispaniculata extract" by Mandal SC, Dhara AK, Maiti BC., posted in PubMed(8)
9. Heart Disease
Andrographis can be used as anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs in prevention of the formation of thrombi(blood clot) as well as the development of myocardial infarction(heart diseases), according to the study of "Antithrombotic effects of Andrographispaniculata nees in preventing myocardial infarction" by Zhao HY, Fang WY., posted in PubMed(9)

10. Anti-bacterial activity
Andrographis paniculata (Burma) Wall. ex Ness (AP) beside have been used to treat upper respiratory tract infection (URI) as well as acute diarrhea, but its leaves also have exerted the activity of anti-bacteria against infection, according to the study of "Undetectable anti-bacterial activity of Andrographispaniculata (Burma) wall. ex ness" by Leelarasamee A, Trakulsomboon S, Sittisomwong N., posted in PubMed(10)

11. Hepatitis B virus
Chemical compounds in Andrographis have shown a property of protection against Hepatistis, according to the study of "In vitro studies on the effect of certain natural products against hepatitis B virus" by Mehrotra R, Rawat S, Kulshreshtha DK, Patnaik GK, Dhawan BN., posted in PubMed(11)


Side effects
1. Antifertility
Dry leaf powder of A. paniculata increases the risk accumulating of glycogen and cholesterol in the testis, and increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase in testis and alkaline phosphatase in testis and ventral prostate, thus reducing the risk of fertility,according to the study of "Antifertility effect of Andrographispaniculata (Nees) in male albino rat" by Akbarsha MA, Manivannan B, Hamid KS, Vijayan B., posted in PubMed(a)
2. People with gallbladder disease may want to consult with their doctor before using because of the herb stimulating gallbladder contraction effect.
3. Etc.