Herbal medicine can offer many benefits across a range of health concerns. One herb to keep in the medicine cupboard is Androghraphis (Andrographis paniculata). This useful herb can be a go-to for medical concerns such as the first sign of viral illness, bacterial infection, stomach virus, fungal infection, asthma, cold sores and inflammation. Andrographis can be used for chronic health conditions associated with cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, amongst its many other uses.
Andrographis is from the Acanthaceae family and has been a popular medicinal plant in Asia, America and Africa continents. It has been used traditionally in ancient oriental and ayurvedic medicine for centuries.
The reason for its use across many different health disorders is due to its broad spectrum of pharmacological properties. The most valuable medicinal assets are found in the aerial parts of the plant, but all parts of the plant are used to extract the active phytochemicals. The major constituents are diterpene lactones - known as andrographolides.
King of bitters
Andrographis is also known as Kalmegh, which means ‘King of bitters. In Ayurvedic medicine it is used as a bitter tonic to reduce fever, improve appetite and digestive function and offers laxative properties.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Andrographis has been used to treat colitis (inflammatory disease of the colon), dysentery, cough, fever, influenza, and sore throat.
Health benefits of Andrographis
Recent research has isolated compounds from Andrographis to verify its medicinal benefits and have reported antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, anti-infective, anti-protozoan, anti-angiogenic and sex hormone/modulation functions; hepato-renal protective and liver enzyme modulation, and insecticidal activities.
Immune system
Immunostimulant. Andrographis can increase the body’s resistance to infection by stimulating the production of antibodies and macrophages – white blood cells that scavenge foreign matter in the body.
Anti-bacterial - Andrographis offers anti-bacterial action. Studies have shown it is useful against:
- Escherichia coli (E. coli). This bacterium is found in our gut and may cause no problems but it is responsible for some minor and major illnesses - such as travellers’ diarrhoea, food poisoning, pneumonia, meningitis and urinary tract infections.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium common in the environment which can cause infections in the lung (pneumonia), in the blood, and after surgery.
Fungal infections
- Candida albicans is common yeast infection implicated in skin and vaginal infections.
Viruses - The active compound, andrographolide, from Andrographis offers broad-spectrum antiviral activity. It has been shown to be effective against a number of viruses which include:
- influenza A
- hepatitis C virus
- Chikungunya virus
- HIV
- hepatitis B virus
- Herpes simplex virus 1
- Epstein–Barr virus
- human papillomavirus (1)
Andrographis has been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of upper respiratory infections - reducing the intensity of throat soreness, cough, headache, earache, nasal secretion, phlegm, tiredness, and aiding sleep.
COVID-19
Coronaviruses disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is a major health concern affecting many people throughout the world. A. paniculata extract, and is major component andrographolide, has been found to significantly inhibit the production of infectious virions – providing experimental evidence for the use of Andrographis as a therapy on its own or in combination with other effective drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 infection [1].
Currently there are no drug or therapy that cures COVID-19 - which is highly contagious and life-threatening disease. Vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended by the world health organisation (WHO).
Allergies - Andrographis has been used traditionally to treat conditions of allergies and inflammation. Studies have shown it to reduce the mediators responsible for allergic symptoms and inflammation.
Inflammation
Andrographis has shown in experimental models to have an anti-inflammatory effect on asthma, upper respiratory infections, stroke and arthritis. It is considered comprehensive therapy for liver inflammation.
Antioxidant
Cancer prevention. Extracts of A. paniculata have shown potency against cancer cells by suppressing their growth. Inhibiting the growth of breast, prostate and hepatoma tumors.
Metabolic syndrome is an umbrella term for a number of interconnected health conditions.
These include diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity, and ultimately connected to cardiovascular disease and mortality. Studies have suggested that Andrographis, especially the derived component andrographolide, may be useful in the management of metabolic syndrome, although many of these studies are based on animal models.
- Dysfunctional glucose and insulin metabolism (a high glucose level) - Andrographiswas able to lower blood glucose levels by reducing the hepatic gluconeogenesis (a metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose) and enhancing glucose uptake.
- Obesity - A. paniculata reduced fat accumulated from a diet high in fat - especially that around the waist and in the liver.
- Dyslipidaemia (elevated plasma cholesterol and/or triglycerides or low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis) – Andrographis improved lipid profiles.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) - Andrographis reduced anti-platelet aggregation (prevent blood clots) in vitro and ex vivo studies and showed a reducion in blood pressure.
- Inflammation. Andrographis offers and anti-inflammatory action. Inflammation is implicated in cardiovascular disease.
Cautions and contraindications
Andrographis is considered a safe herb with low toxicity and few side effects. Adverse reactions may be experienced in high doses such as nausea, gastric discomfort and loss of appetite.
Andrographis is contraindicated in pregnancy.
References
- Harnessing the medicinal properties of Andrographis paniculata for diseases and beyond: a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4032030/
- Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees: A Review of Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408759/
- https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/pseudomonas.html
- Andrographolide and analogues in cancer prevention https://www.fbscience.com/Elite/articles/10.2741/E732
- The Antiaging Properties of Andrographis paniculata by Activation Epidermal Cell Stemness https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6332002/
- https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/129/table-of-contents/hg129-wnews-thai-andro-cov19/
- [1] Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity of Andrographis paniculata Extract and Its Major Component Andrographolide in Human Lung Epithelial Cells and Cytotoxicity Evaluation in Major Organ Cell Representatives https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8056600/
- https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/chikungunya.aspx
- https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines/advice
- Network pharmacology integrated with experimental validation revealed the anti-inflammatory effects of Andrographis paniculata https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8105393/
- Effect of an extract of Andrographis paniculata leaves on inflammatory and allergic mediators in vitro https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874110001698?via%3Dihub
- Andrographolide, a New Hope in the Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00571/full
- https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-au/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/lipid-disorders/dyslipidemia
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