:Andrographis paniculata

{{speciesbox

|image = Andrographis paniculata (Kalpa) in Narshapur forest, AP W2 IMG 0867.jpg

|genus = Andrographis

|species = paniculata

|authority = (Burm.f.) Nees{{cite web | title = Andrographis paniculata | work = Plants of the World Online | publisher = Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | url = https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:45226-1 | access-date = 17 March 2019}}

|synonyms =

{{Species list

| Justicia latebrosa | {{small|Russell ex Wall.}}

| Justicia paniculata | {{small|Burm.f.}}

| Justicia stricta | {{small|Lam. ex Steud.}}

}}

|synonyms_ref =

}}

Andrographis paniculata, commonly known as creat or green chiretta,{{GRIN | access-date = 17 March 2019}} is an annual herbaceous plant in the family Acanthaceae, native to India and Sri Lanka.

It is widely cultivated in Southern and Southeastern Asia, where it has been believed to be a treatment for bacterial infections and some diseases. Mostly the leaves and roots have been used for such purposes; the whole plant is also used, in some cases.{{Cite web|url = http://envis.frlht.org/botanical_search.php?txtbtname=Andrographis+paniculata+%28BURM.F.%29WALLICH+EX+NEES.&gesp=181%7CAndrographis+paniculata+%28BURM.F.%29WALLICH+EX+NEES.|title = Traded Medicinal Plants Database}}

Description

The plant grows as an erect herb to a height of {{convert|30–110|cm|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|8|cm|abbr=on}} long by {{convert|2.5|cm|abbr=on}}. The small flowers are pink, solitary, arranged in lax spreading racemes or panicles. The fruit is a capsule around {{convert|2|cm|abbr=on}} long and a few millimeters wide.{{cite journal |author1=Anil Kumar, Jyotsna Dora, Anup Singh and Rishikant Tripathi |s2cid=29219947 |title=A review on king of bitter (Kalmegh) |journal=Int J Res Pharm Chem |date=2012 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=116–124}} It contains many yellow-brown seeds. The seeds are subquadrate, rugose and glabrous. The flowering time is September to December.{{cite book |last1=Board |first1=N.I.I.R. |title=Herbs cultivation & their utilization |date=2003 |publisher=Asia Pacific Business Press, Inc. |location=Delhi, India |isbn=81-7833-064-4 |pages=45–46}}

Distribution

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 {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}}, 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 {{convert|2000-5000|tonne}} of the plant is traded in India.{{Cite web|url =http://www.nmpb.nic.in/index1.php?level=0&linkid=90&lid=642|title =List of 178 Medicinal Plant Species in high Volume Trade (>100 MT/Year)|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023742/http://www.nmpb.nic.in/index1.php?level=0&linkid=90&lid=642|archive-date =2015-11-17|url-status =dead}}

Cultivation

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 {{nowrap|{{convert|60|cm|abbr=on}} × {{convert|30|cm|abbr=on}}}}.

Vernacular names

creat (English)
green chireta (English)
king of bitter{{ cite book | first1=Joseph | last1=Samy | first2=M.| last2=Sugumaran | first3=Kate | last3=Lee | date=2005 | title=Herbs of Malaysia | publisher=Times Editions - Marshall Cavendish | isbn=9833001793 | pages=47 }}
phtuhs' (smau) (phtuhs'="explosion", smau="grass", referring to sound of its ripe fruit opening, Khmer language){{cite book |last1=Pauline Dy Phon |title=Plants Utilised In Cambodia/Plantes utilisées au Cambodge |date=2000 |publisher=Imprimerie Olympic |location=Phnom Penh |pages=14, 15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=InD2RAAACAAJ|author1-link=Pauline Dy Phon }}
穿心莲, chuan xin lian (Standard Chinese){{cite web |last1=Hu |first1=Jia-qi |last2=Daniel |first2=Thomas F. |title=FOC: Family List: FOC Vol. 19: Acanthaceae: Andrographis: 1. Andrographis paniculata (N. L. Burman) Wallich ex Nees in Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar. 3: 116. 1832. |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200021989 |website=Flora of China |publisher=eFloras.org |access-date=8 April 2021}}
roi des amers (French)

Uses and Safety Concerns

=Alternative medicine=

== Traditional Use ==

A. paniculata has been used in Siddha and Ayurvedic medicine,medicinal properties of bhunimb [https://books.google.com/books?id=I0gsAAAAIAAJ&q=%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8B Nighatu adarsh]{{Page needed|date=November 2010}} and is promoted as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and cure. There is no evidence that it helps prevent or cure cancer.{{cite web|url=http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/andrographis|title=Andrographis|publisher=Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center|date=13 February 2013}}

In the traditional medicine of India, A. paniculata has also been used for jaundice therapy.{{cite journal | last1 = Tewari | first1 = D | last2 = Mocan | first2 = A | last3 = Parvanov | first3 = ED | last4 = Sah | first4 = AN | last5 = Nabavi | first5 = SM | last6 = Huminiecki | first6 = L | last7 = Ma | first7 = ZF | last8 = Lee | first8 = YY | last9 = Horbańczuk | first9 = JO | last10 = Atanasov | first10 = AG | date = Aug 2017 | title = Ethnopharmacological Approaches for Therapy of Jaundice: Part I | journal = Front Pharmacol | volume = 8 | page = 518 | pmid = 28860989 | doi=10.3389/fphar.2017.00518 | pmc=5559545| doi-access = free }}

A. paniculata has also traditionally been used in India and China for the common cold and influenza. A 2017 (pre COVID-19) meta-analysis evaluating Andrographis paniculata for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) indicated possible support for its efficacy and safety, but cautioned that the trials reviewed were of poor quality and thus not conclusive.{{cite journal|author1=Xiao-Yang Hu, Ruo-Han Wu, Martin Logue, Clara Blondel, Lily Yuen Wan Lai, Beth Stuart, Andrew Flower, Yu-Tong Fei, Michael Moore, Jonathan Shepherd, Jian-Ping Liu, George Lewith|date=2017|title=Andrographis paniculata (Chuān Xīn Lián) for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory tract infections in adults and children: A systematic review and meta-analysis|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=12|issue=8|page=e0181780|bibcode=2017PLoSO..1281780H|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0181780|pmc=5544222|pmid=28783743|doi-access=free}}

== COVID-19 ==

Amid Thailand's COVID-19 outbreak in December 2020, the country's health ministry approved the usage of the plant extract for a pilot alternative treatment program.{{cite news|work=Bloomberg |title=Thailand Clears Use of Herbal Medicine for Covid-19 Treatment|access-date=31 December 2020|date=30 December 2020 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-30/thailand-clears-use-of-herbal-medicine-for-covid-19-treatment}} In July 2021, the Cabinet of Thailand approved the use of green chiretta to treat asymptomatic COVID patients after the Thai Corrections Department said the drug was beneficial in prison inmates.{{cite news |last1=Bangprapa |first1=Mongkol |title=Cabinet approves green chiretta for Covid patients |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2155659/cabinet-approves-green-chiretta-for-covid-patients |access-date=31 July 2021 |work=Bangkok Post |date=27 July 2021}} Claims as to its efficacy as a COVID therapeutic are contentious and in dispute.{{cite news|author=Jack Arthur |title=Traditional Thai medicine 'Fah Talai Jone' gains steam as a treatment, despite shaky scientific merit |url=https://thethaiger.com/news/national/traditional-thai-medicine-fah-talai-jone-gains-steam-as-a-treatment-despite-shaky-scientific-merit |date=18 July 2021 |work=Thaiger}}

== Safety Concerns ==

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration's evaluation of the safety concern regarding the herb "is ongoing".

"This includes further strengthening labelling requirements and/or restrictions on the availability of Andrographis paniculata as an ingredient," a TGA spokesperson said.

A 2012 review found that A. paniculata extracts could inhibit expression of several cytochrome C enzymes and thus interfere with metabolism of other pharmaceuticals.{{cite journal|author1=Rammohan Subramanian, Mohd. Zaini Asmawi, Amirin Sadikun|date=2012|title=A bitter plant with a sweet future? A comprehensive review of an oriental medicinal plant: Andrographis paniculata|journal=Phytochemistry Reviews|publisher=Springer|volume=11|issue=1|page=Phytochemistry Reviews|doi=10.1007/s11101-011-9219-z|bibcode=2012PChRv..11...39S |s2cid=18018227}} A 2019 review finds that A. paniculata compounds such as andrographolide have poor solubility and relatively low potency, and that a semi-synthetic injectable derivative Xiyanping can cause sometimes life-threatening allergic reactions.{{cite journal|author1=Yan Dai, Shao-Ru Chen, Ling Chai, Jing Zhao, Yitao Wang & Ying Wang|date=2019|title=Overview of pharmacological activities of Andrographis paniculata and its major compound andrographolide|journal=Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition|volume=59|issue=sup1|pages=S17–S29|doi=10.1080/10408398.2018.1501657|pmid=30040451|s2cid=51715899}}

=Food=

In Cambodia the dried root macerated in alcohol is consumed as an aperitive, while the seeds make a black jelly called chahuoy khmau.

Chemistry

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 in 1911. Systematic studies on chemistry of A. paniculata have been carried out.Chao W-W., Lin B.-F. "Isolation and identification of bioactive compounds in Andrographis paniculata (Chuanxinlian) Chinese Medicine 2010 5 Article Number 17{{cite journal |vauthors=Hossain MS, Urbi Z, Sule A, Hafizur Rahman KM |title=Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees: a review of ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology |journal=ScientificWorldJournal |volume=2014 |pages=1–28 |year=2014 |pmid=25950015 |pmc=4408759 |doi=10.1155/2014/274905 |doi-access=free }}

Some known constituents 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

{{cite web

|url= https://phytochem.nal.usda.gov/phytochem/plants/show/135

|title=Species Information

|publisher=sun.ars-grin.gov

|access-date=2008-03-07

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041110141127/http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=79

|archive-date=2004-11-10

}}

References

External links

[http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Andrographis.html Andrographis (www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au)]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20041110141127/http://sun.ars-grin.gov:8080/npgspub/xsql/duke/plantdisp.xsql?taxon=79 Dr. Duke's Database]
{{cite book |last=Caldecott |first=Todd |year=2006 |title=Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life |publisher=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
{{cite journal |pmid=21438648 |url=http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/16/1/66.pdf |year=2011 |last1=Akbar |first1=S |title=Andrographis paniculata: A review of pharmacological activities and clinical effects |journal=Alternative Medicine Review |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=66–77 }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023122/http://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?lang=en&channelid=1288&searchword=herb_id%3DD00075 Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees] Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) {{in lang|zh-hant}} {{in lang|en}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221200/http://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?channelid=35734&searchword=herb_id%3DD00426 穿心蓮, Common Andrographis Herb, Chuan Xin Lian] Chinese Medicine Specimen Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) {{in lang|zh-hant}} {{in lang|en}}
[http://cochranelibrary-wiley.com/o/cochrane/cldare/articles/DARE-12014003842/frame.html Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) databases] Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews