Andrographis paniculata
Species of flowering plant
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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.
Description
The plant grows as an erect herb to a height of 30–110 cm (12–43 in) 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 8 cm (3.1 in) long by 2.5 cm (0.98 in). The small flowers are pink, solitary, arranged in lax spreading racemes or panicles. The fruit is a capsule around 2 cm (0.79 in) long and a few millimeters wide. It contains many yellow-brown seeds. The seeds are subquadrate, rugose and glabrous. The flowering time is September to December.
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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 500 m (1,600 ft), 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 2,000–5,000 tonnes (2,200–5,500 tons) of the plant is traded in India.
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 60 cm (24 in) × 30 cm (12 in).
Vernacular names
- creat (English)
- green chireta (English)
- king of bitter
- phtuhs' (smau) (phtuhs'="explosion", smau="grass", referring to sound of its ripe fruit opening, Khmer language)
- 穿心莲, chuan xin lian (Standard Chinese)
- roi des amers (French)
Uses and potential allergenicity
A 2019 review found that A. paniculata extracts, such as andrographolide, have poor solubility and relatively low potency, and that a semi-synthetic derivative, xiyanping, can cause life-threatening allergic reactions.
Food
In Cambodia, the dried root macerated in alcohol is consumed as an apéritif, 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.
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