Kalmegh: A King of Bitters

 

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

(Photo source: Amazon India)

 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)