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Botanical Classification |
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Kingdom |
Plantae |
Division |
Angiosperm |
Class |
Dicotyledonae |
Order |
Laminales |
Family |
acanthaceae |
Genus |
Andrographis |
Species |
paniculata |
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Family |
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Botanical– acanthaceae
Ayurvedic- vasa kul
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Other Names |
- English : Green chiretta, kalmegh, Creat
- Hindi : Kalamegh, Kalpaaath
- Kannada : Nelaberu
- Malayalam : Nilaveppu, Kiriyatta
- Sanskrit : Bhunimbah, Kiratatiktah
- Tamil : Nilavempu
- Telugu : Nelavemu
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Habitat |
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It is found all over India especially in the plains.
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Morphology |
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An erect, branched annual herb, 0.3 m to 0.9m in height with quadrangular branches; leaves simple, lanceolate, acute at both ends, glabrous, main nerves 4-6 pairs; flowers small, pale but blotched and spotted with brown and purple distant in lax spreading axillary and terminal racemes or panicles, calyx-lobes glandular pubescent, anthers bearded at the base; fruits linear capsules, acute at both ends; seeds numerous, yellowish brown, subquadrate.
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Chemical Constituents |
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Leaves, B-sitosterol glucd. And unknown compds. (Pak J Sci Ind Res, 1963, 6, 152, CA, 1964, 60, 13572e). Alcoholic Extract of leaes andrographolide and panicolide (Sci Res Dacca, 1964, 1, 65, CA, 61, 16442h). Polyphenols, caffeic and chlorogenic acids, and a mixt, of dicaffcoylquinic acid from leaves (Leath Sci, 1978, 25, 250). Roots, flavones andrographin and panicolin, and a-sitosterol (Sci Res Dacca, 1964, 1, 223, CA, 1965, 62, 8119h) 5-OH-7, 8, 2, 3, tetra-MeO-Flavone (Indian J Chem, 1969, 7, 306) in addn. Flavones. Apigenin 4, 7-diMe ethers and mono-OMe-wightin (Pak J Sci Ind Res. 1972, 15, 33, CA, 1973, 78, 432000t). Plant, diterp. Glucd. Necoandro grapholide (Tetrahedron Lett. 1968, 4803), str. And stereochem. Of neoandrographolide (Tetrahedron, 1971, 27, 5081). Chem. Examination of plant (J Res Indian Med, 1972, 7 (1), 93) Ext. of plant gave 14-deoxy-11-oxoandrographolide and 14-deoxy-11, 14-didehydroandro-grapholide and 14-deoxyandrographolide ( J Chem Soc Perkin Trans I, 1973, 1247). Rev. covering bot. Chem.. and biochem. (Indian Drugs. 1977-78, 15, 187). 3 Flavones from cultures (Photochemistry, 1979, 18, 149). Apigenin 7,4-di-OMe ether from plant exhibited antiulcer activity in Shay rats, histamine-induced ulcer in guinea pigs and aspirin ulcers in rats.
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Pharmacology |
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Leaf and stem extracts of Kalmegh given subcutaneous or orally did not change blood sugar level of normal or diabetic rats (Bangladesh Pharm J, 1977, 6, 21, CA, 1978, 88, 315y). Kamegh increased biliary flow and liver wt. In rats and decreased hexobarbital induced sleeping time less potent than Phenobarbital (Indian J Exp Biol, 1978, 16, 830). Alcoholic extracts of plant prolonged the life of mice given cobra snake venom. Extracts showed muscarinic activity in dog B.P. etc. (Indian J Pharm Sci, 1978, 40, 132). Powd. Stem showed anti-fertility action.
According to ayurveda it contains
- Gunna (properties)- laghu (light) and ruksh (dry)
- Rasa (taste) – tickta (bitter)
- Virya (potency) – ushan (hot)
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Toxicology |
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No toxic effect was seen on human body with Andrographis paniculata consumption but if taken in excess leads to convulsions, head ache, skin rashes and itching all over the body.
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Plant part used |
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Whole plant
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Indication |
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- Loss of appetite
- Hepatomegaly
- Constipation
- Worm infestation
- Blood impurity
- Skin diseases
- Fever especially in malarial fever.
- General body weakness.
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Uses |
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Powder - Plant mixed with mustard oil, applied in itching. Plant used is spleen complaints, colic, and strangulation of intestine, constipation, diarrhea, cholera, phthisis, consumption and bite of rabid jackal (ibid, 1970, 24, 244). It is domestic medicine for flatulence and diarrhea of children. It is used in torpidity of liver, neuralgia and convalescence after fever
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