HerbsSearch — Discover the Power of Plants
Botanical illustration of Andrographis
MedicinalSourced entry

Andrographis

Andrographis paniculata

A bitter herb used across Asia for infections and fevers, and traditionally for skin inflammation and wounds. It has mainly been studied for colds and flu.

Safety at a glance

Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.

Andrographis may interact with some medicines. If you take any medicine, read Interactions with medicines below and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using it.

What is Andrographis?

Plant family
Acanthaceae, the acanthus family
Parts used
The above-ground parts
Where it grows
Common in much of Asia
Genus
Andrographis
Species
paniculata

Also called

Indian Echinacea, Chiretta

Traditional names

Kalmegh, Chuan Xin Lian

Traditionally used for

  • Colds and flu
  • Skin inflammation (traditional)
  • Wounds (traditional)

Traditionally described as

  • Bitter tonic

Health topics

Where Andrographis appears in symptom search, and why. Being listed doesn't mean it's a proven treatment.

Traditions that use it

How it's prepared

Common ways Andrographis is prepared or sold. This isn't advice on how to take it; see Safety below.

  • Capsule

    In clinical trials, andrographis is mostly taken as capsules or tablets; granules and pills are also used.[1]Review or trial

Safety

Interactions with medicines

  • Andrographis may interact with:

    • Blood pressure medicines (it may lower blood pressure further)
    • Blood thinners and anti-platelet medicines
    • Chemotherapy
    • The asthma medicine aminophylline
    • Many medicines broken down by the liver

    Talk with your doctor before using it if you take any of these.[2]General reference

    Technical detail: CYP1A2, 2C9 and 3A4 inhibition and CYP1A1 induction in lab studies; UGT2B7 substrates.

Allergies

  • Andrographis can cause allergic reactions, including skin rash and, in some cases, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Some types of extract may carry a higher risk.[2]General reference

Side effects

  • Other side effects include headache, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a changed sense of taste, and painful or swollen lymph nodes with very high doses. Kidney injury has been reported with andrographolide given into a vein.[2]General reference

  • A 2021 review of andrographis taken by mouth found serious side effects were very rare (about 0.02 per 1,000 people in trials), but mild ones were common (about 1 in 10 in trials), mostly stomach and gut upset and skin reactions.[3]Review or trial

What does the research say?

Traditional use

These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.

  • Andrographis is a bitter plant used across Asia, often with other herbs, to treat infections and fevers. It is also used in folk medicine for snakebites.[2]General reference

  • Andrographis is mainly used to treat skin inflammation, wounds and infections.[4]Study

Laboratory & animal research

Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.

  • In lab tests on skin cells damaged by ultraviolet (UVB) light, andrographis extract and its main compound, andrographolide, helped the cells survive and reduced signs of damage and inflammation.[4]Study

    Technical detail: HaCaT keratinocytes and epidermal stem cells; lower ROS, IL-1β, IL-6 and CDKN1A; diterpene lactones identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.

  • In lab studies, andrographis showed antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-cancer activity, and reduced inflammation.[2]General reference

Research in people

  • Andrographis has mostly been studied for colds and flu. Alone or with other herbs, it may reduce how long cold and flu symptoms last and how bad they are, and reviews suggest it may reduce coughing. Small trials suggest possible benefits in ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis, but more research is needed. It hasn't been studied on the skin in people.[2]General reference

  • A 2017 review of 33 trials with 7,175 people found andrographis, taken by mouth, eased cough and sore throat from colds and other short-term chest and throat infections better than a dummy pill. Many trials used commercial products, some mixed with other herbs, and rarely described how they were made.[1]Review or trial

    Technical detail: cough SMD −0.39 (95% CI −0.67 to −0.10); sore throat SMD −1.13 (−1.37 to −0.89).

In short

Can cause allergic reactions and skin rash, and may interact with many medicines.

Sources

  1. [1] Andrographis paniculata (Chuān Xīn Lián) for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory tract infections in adults and children: A systematic review and meta-analysis · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181780Review or clinical trial
  2. [2] Andrographis — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, About HerbsGeneral reference
  3. [3] Safety of Andrographis paniculata: A systematic review and meta-analysis · DOI: 10.1002/pds.5190Review or clinical trial
  4. [4] Exploring the Active Constituents of Andrographis paniculata in Protecting the Skin Barrier and the Synergistic Effects with Collagen XVII — Antioxidants (Basel) · DOI: 10.3390/antiox14010118Peer-reviewed study

This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.