Botanical
Name: Andrographis paniculata
Family: Acanthaceae
English Name: Creat, Green
Chiretta
Indian
Names:
Kalmegh, Kiryat, Hara Chirayetah (Hindi); Bhunimbaha, Kalmegha (Sanskrit); Charayetah
(Urdu); Cherota, Kalo megha, Mahateta (Bengali); Kiryattu, Nila veppu,
Nilamkanjiram, Ptumba (Malyalam); Kadu kirayata, Kalpa (Marathi); Nilavembu,
Pitumbay (Tamil); Kari-vemu, Nilavembu (Telgu)
Kalmegh, an
important medicinal plant used in traditional, Ayurveda and Siddha systems of
medicine, is a native to India, China, Pakistan, and Thailand. Colloquially, it
is known as the “king of bitters” due to its extremely bitter taste.
Morphology
Kalmegh is an
annual, branched, erect and herbaceous plant growing up to 90 cm (about 2.95
ft) tall. The stem is green, quadrangular, and branched. Leaves are green,
opposite, petiolate, lanceolate, up to 7.5 x 2.5 in size and glabrous. The
upper surface of the leaf is dark green and shining, while the lower side is
paler and finely granular. Flowers are small, solitary, on long petioles and
white in colour with purple streaks. Corolla is white with purple streaks,
hairy and bilipped.
Chemical Constituents
Kalmegh is
reported to contain alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins,
steroids, cinnamic acid, and ferulic acid. Aerial parts have alkanes, ketones,
and aldehydes. This plant has been reported to contain more than 55 ent-labdane
diterpenoids, 30 flavonoids, 8 quinic acids, 4 xanthones, and 5 noriridoids.
Andrographolide diterpenoids are the most common phytoconstituent found in
every part of this plant with many medicinal properties. Another constituent of
medicinal importance is neoandrographolide.
MEDICINAL USES
Kalmegh has many
medicinal properties and find use in Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha medicines.
Some of the medicinal uses are:
1.
Management of Liver Problems
Kalmegh is
considered to be useful in the management of liver problems due to its antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties due to the presence of diterpenoid
andrographolide. In Ayurveda, it is considered to balance the pitta and kapha
in the human body thus useful in liver-related diseases. The Unani system of
medicine uses kalmegh as a liver tonic.
2.
Anti-microbial Properties
Kalmegh is
reported to have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-plasmodial
properties.
3.
Anti-inflammatory Properties
Kalmegh has
strong anti-inflammatory activity due to the presence of andrographolide. It
reduces the level of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-a, IL-6, IL-1b and
IL-10.
4.
Useful in Cold and Flu
Kalmegh is
beneficial in common colds, flu (influenza) and infections of the upper
respiratory tract. Andrographolide present in this plant has anti-viral, and
anti-inflammatory properties.
5.
Anti-pyretic Properties
Kalmegh is
reported to be useful in several types of fevers due to its anti-microbial and
anti-inflammatory properties.
6.
Useful in Ulcerative Colitis
Kalmegh is
considered to be useful in the management of ulcerative colitis/
inflammatory bowel disease due to strong anti-inflammatory activity of andrographolide.
7. Beneficial
in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Some
reports point out the usefulness of kalmegh in management of autoimmune
disease rheumatoid arthritis (Aamavata in Ayurveda) due to its
anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
8.
Anti-diabetic Properties
Kalmegh is used
in the management of blood sugar/diabetes in Indonesia.
9.
Detoxification
In Chinese
herbal medicine, this plant is used for the detoxification of body.
10.
Anti-tumour Property
Andrographolide
present in Kalmegh is reported to inhibit the proliferation of different
tumor cell lines in experimental studies.
11. Immunomodulatory
Effect
A recent study on humans in 2021 has
reported that Kalmegh has immunomodulatory properties. Intake of its 100
mg dried extract for 30 days by the study group increased T cells, T helper cells and
significantly increased cytokines IFN-γ, IL-4, and decreased cytokines IL-2. Small
doses were reported to be safe.
Medicinal Preparations
Ayurvedic: Mefcop (Pro-hepatic therapy), Liv-52,
Purim, Talekt, PartySmart
Homeopathic: Andrographis paniculata Mother Tincture Q
Caution
Large oral doses may cause gastric
discomfort, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, lethargy and decreased activity.
Antifertility and pregnancy-terminating properties have been reported in
literature. LD50 value of andrgrapholide in male mice is reported to
be 11,460 mg/kg of body weight.
(Note: This BLOG is only for knowledge dissemination. Consult a medical practitioner before using even the herbal preparations)
