Andrographis paniculata

Botanical name : Andrographis paniculata

Family : Acanthaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS :Kiratatikta, Kandatikta, Bhoonimba, TiktakaAYURVEDIC PROPERTIES :

Rasa : Tikta

Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha,

Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

English : Chiretta plant Hindi : Kiryat Malayalam : Kiriyath

Origin : It grows throughout India from Assam and Himachal Pradesh to all over south India. Grows well in moist and shaded places, but it prefers sunny situations. It is cultivated all over India.

PLANT DESCRIPTION :

An annual herb grows up to 50 cm in height, having slender quadrangular branches, leaves opposite, lanceolate, sub sessile, flowers small bluish white, numerous, whitish, fruits minute pointed capsules, seeds are many.MEDICINAL PROPERTIESPlant pacifies tridoshas, skin diseases, burning sensation, cough and bronchitis. Plant stimulates liver and purifies vitiated blood.

Chemical composition /key active constituents
Bitter diterpenoid lactones, especially deoxy-andrographolide, andrographolide and
ncoandrographolide have been isolated from the whole plant and leaves.
Diterpene dimers
Flavonoids available in the roots.
The main active constituents and marker compounds are considered to be the andrographolides and andrographis extracts are often standardized to these compounds.

Useful part : Whole plant

Pharmacology : It increases biliary flow and liver weight in rat. Andrographolide produces a significant dose dependent choleretic effect, as evidence by increase in bile flow, bile salt and bile acids in conscious rats and anaesthetised guinea pigs.It shows hepatoprotective action.It improves non-specific immune response. Although both andrographis and beta glucan effective immune enhancers, Extracts of andrographis,have been shown to stimulate powerful immune responses in living creatures. The immune response may be specific directed at a microbial invader already present in the body, or generally, strengthening the immune system in preparation against future infections. Andrographis strongly stimulates phagocytosis and the production of specific antibodies.
USES :
Digestive: Promotes digestionHepatoprotective: Protects the liver and gall bladder.Vermicidal: Kills intestinal worms & support intestineAnti-acne: Protect skin from pimplesAnalgesic: Pain killerAnti-inflammatory: Reduces swelling and cuts down exudation from capillariesAntibacterial: Fights bacterial activity. Although Andrographis appears to have weak direct antibacterial action, it has remarkably beneficial effect in reducing diarrhea and symptoms arising from bacterial infections.Expectorant: Promotes mucus discharge from the respiratory system.Hypoglycemic: Blood sugar reducer.Immune Enhancement.Laxative: Aids bowel eliminationSedative: A relaxing herb, though not with the same effect as the accepted herbal sedatives, valerian roots, hops, skullcap, etc.
Dosage :
Andrographis is generally available as capsules with dried herb or as standardized extracts (containing 11.2 mg andrographolides per 200 mg of extract). For dried herb, 500–3,000 mg is taken three times per day. In clinical trials, 100 mg of a standardized extract were taken two times per day to treat the common cold, for indigestion, andrographis may be taken as a tea. A typical dosage of andrographis is 400 mg 3 times a day.