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5. Andrographis paniculata (Barm.f.

) Nees (Acanthaceae)
Hempedu Bumi, Sambiloto, Chuan Xin Lian

Andrographis paniculata plants

Andrographis paniculata owers

Description: Andrographis paniculata (Barm.f.) Nees is an annual herb that grows up to 1 m in height. Stems are glabrous and articulated. Leaves are simple, opposite and exstipulate. Blade is dark green, bitter, glossy, simple, lanceolate, opposite and 48 cm by 1.32.5 cm. Its small and white flowers grow in terminal or axillary panicles. Both the bracts and the 5-lobed calyx are small. Fruits are upright, fusiform, capsular and contains 24 seeds.[1] Origin: Native to Indian subcontinent and cultivated elsewhere.[2] Phytoconstituents: Andrographolide, andropanolide, andrographic acid and andrographidine A, andrographatoside, andropaniculosin A and andropaniculoside A and others.[314] Traditional Medicinal Uses: The plant is used orally to prevent and treat common cold, influenza, pharyngotonsilitis, allergies and sinusitis. Traditionally, it is used for many conditions including anorexia, atherosclerosis, insect and
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A Guide to Medicinal Plants

snake bites, bronchitis, prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, cholera and as a tonic.[1,15,16] Pharmacological Activities: Antiapoptotic,[17] Antibacterial,[1820] Antifungal,[18] Anticancer,[2130] Antidiabetic/Hypoglycaemic,[3136] Antifertility,[37] Anti-inflammatory,[3848] Antioxidant,[45,4951] Antiplatelet,[52,53] Antiprotozoal,[5456] Antiviral,[57,58] Cardioprotective,[59] Chemopreventive,[60] Hepatoprotective,[6163] Hypotensive,[64] Immunomodulatory,[35,42,65,66] Psychopharmacological activities,[67] Vasorelaxant[68] and Cytotoxic.[12] Dosage: For decreasing symptoms of common cold, doses of 400 mg of standardised andrographolide are required three times daily; for preventing common cold, a dose of 200 mg daily for 5 days in a week; for relieving fever and sore throat in pharyngotonsilitis, doses of 3 g and 6 g daily were used.[16] Use 69 g for influenza with fever, sore throat, ulcers in the mouth, acute or chronic cough, colitis, dysentery, urinary tract infection, carbuncles, sores and venomous snake bite.[69] Adverse Reactions: Orally, large doses of Andrographis may cause gastrointestinal distress, anorexia, emesis and urticaria. Androgapholide taken orally at 5 mg/kg three times a day may cause headache, fatigue, rash, abnormal taste, diarrhoea, itching, lymphadenopathy, anaphylactic reactions, etc.[16] Contraindications: Contraindicated in pregnancy, likely to be unsafe due to abortifacient effect.[16] Toxicity: No toxic effect was observed after administration of a decoction of Andrographis paniculata leaves to rabbits.[70] LD50 of androgapholide in mice through oral route is > 40 g/kg body weight, which indicates low toxicity.[71] Drug-Herb Interactions: Simultaneous application of A. paniculata and warfarin did not produce significant effects on the pharmacokinetics of warfarin, and practically no effect on its pharmacodynamics.[72]

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