Andrographis echioides

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Neesiella echioides
• Ruellia malabarica
• Justicia echinoides
• Justicia echioides
• Erianthera echioides
• Erianthera lobelioides
• Indoneesiella echioides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Lamiales and the family Acanthaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Andrographis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans multiple regions across different continents. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. Its presence is also noted in the specific ecological zone of the West Himalaya. Moving away from Asia, the species has been documented in the Southeastern United States, specifically in Virginia. This wide-ranging habitat demonstrates the plant's ability to adapt to diverse environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Andrographis echioides is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological process—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As an annual species, it typically germinates following seasonal rains, focusing its metabolic energy on rapid vegetative growth to establish a robust structure. During its development, the plant transitions from its seedling stage to a flowering stage, where it produces inflorescences that facilitate sexual reproduction. Once pollination occurs, the plant shifts its resources toward seed maturation and dispersal. Following the successful release of its seeds into the environment, the parent plant completes its life cycle and dies, leaving the next generation to emerge from the soil during the subsequent favorable growing period.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Andrographis echioides is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent species that does not exhibit parasitic behavior and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. The plant's structure is entirely non-woody, maintaining a soft, herbaceous consistency throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Andrographis echioides has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Andrographis echioides has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Androechin, Decanoic acid, Echioidinin 5-O-glucoside.

Androechin

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Decanoic acid

1. Scientific reports

Echioidinin 5-O-glucoside

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Activities

Andrographis echioides has 5 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiangiogenic, Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative, Antipyretic, Hepatoprotective.

Antiangiogenic

1. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Antiproliferative

1. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Antipyretic

1. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Conditions

Andrographis echioides has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antipyretic.

Antipyretic

1. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Preparations

Andrographis echioides has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts, leaf extracts.

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Leaf extracts

1. Scientific reports