Andrographis Paniculata: Exploring Medicinal Marvels
A lot of literature reviews about Andrographis paniculata has been published previously. Researchers are critically involved in the research to extract out the potential medicinal value that possess by the “King of Bitter”. It has a broad pharmacological value. Traditionally many disease condition have been treated successfully. The success of the plant is due to the presence of few bioactive compounds such as andrographolide, homo-andrographolide andrographesterol, andrographopne which are identified through the phythochemistry studies of the plant which are having the wide therapeutic activities. The extremely bitter taste of the plant is due the compound known as andrographolide. However this bitter plant is having a sweet future for those appreciated the benefits of the plant. From the review it is proven that Andrographis paniculata is having antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anticancer, antivenom, anti HIV, antimalarial, antipyretic, antifertility, antidiarrhoeal, antidiabetic, antihiperlipidemic activities. Variety of literature concerning about the toxicity studies has confirmed that the plant is safe to consume although few findings revealed that consuming Andrographis paniculata for a long period of time may possess some unwanted action especially in the fertility studies.
Andrographis paniculata is a plant that has been effectively used in traditional Asian medicines for centuries. Its perceived “blood purifying” property results in its use in diseases where blood “abnormalities” are considered causes of disease, such as skin eruptions, boils, scabies, and chronic undetermined fevers. The aerial part of the plant, used medicinally, contains a large number of chemical constituents, mainly lactones, diterpenoids, diterpene glycosides, flavonoids, and flavonoid glycosides. Controlled clinical trials report its safe and effective use for reducing symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections. Since many of the disease conditions commonly treated with Andrographis paniculata in traditional medical systems are considered self-limiting, its purported benefits need critical evaluation (Akbar, 2011).
Andrographis paniculata grows widely in many Asian countries, such as China, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka and has a long history of therapeutic usage in Indian and Oriental medicine. The herb is official in Indian Pharmacopoeia as a predominant constituent of at least 26 Ayurvedic formulations used to treat liver disorders. It is one of the herbs, which can be used to treat neoplasm as mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic literature. Andrographis paniculata is reported as a cold property herb in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is used to get rid of body heat and to expel toxins (Majee et al., 2011). Table 1 represent the taxonomy of Andrographis paniculata (Alireza et al., 2011).
Andrographolide, a bitter principle obtained from Andrographis paniculata is a diterpene lactone, responsible for various pharmacological activities. This is a well known phytoconstituent from Indian System of Medicine, used in the management of different diseases since time immemorial. Research activities worldwide to exhibit the beneficial role of Andrographolide are continuously enriching the therapeutic arsenal of this important phytomolecule. In addition to the well known pharmacological activities like hepatoprotective, antioxidant, hypoglycemic etc., recent advances in the management of immune system and neoplastic diseases make andrographolide the phytomolecule of the hour (Maiti et al., 2006). The therapeutic value of Andrographis paniculata is due to its mechanism of action which is perhaps by enzyme induction (Meenatchisundaram et al., 2009).
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