King of bitter

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• creat
• green chireta
• Green Chiretta

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Andrographis paniculata var. glandulosa
• Justicia latebrosa
• Andrographis subspathulata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Andrographis paniculata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Acanthaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Andrographis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found specifically in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its range also extends significantly into the Indian Subcontinent. In this region, the species is documented to grow in Assam and throughout Bangladesh. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Andrographis paniculata is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle within a single growing season. The life cycle begins with seed germination, typically triggered by favorable moisture and temperature conditions, leading to the emergence of a small seedling. As the plant matures, it develops an erect, herbaceous stem that can reach heights of up to 60-90 cm, accompanied by opposite, lanceolate leaves. During its vegetative phase, the plant focuses on biomass accumulation and the synthesis of bioactive compounds. Upon reaching reproductive maturity, it produces small, white, two-lipped flowers arranged in terminal racemes. Following successful pollination, the plant develops small capsules containing numerous tiny seeds. Once the seeds are dispersed, the parent plant completes its biological purpose and dies, leaving the next generation to emerge from the seed bank in subsequent seasons.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Andrographis paniculata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It functions as an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial lifestyle rather than being aquatic or an epiphyte. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as being a vine or liana. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches an average height of 0.8 m, with a maximum potential height of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Andrographis paniculata is characterized by specific vegetative dimensions and metabolic attributes, particularly regarding its leaf morphology and nutrient acquisition processes. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 6 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width spans from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Unlike certain leguminous species, this plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for growth.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Andrographis paniculata primarily occurs through the production of small, dry capsules that function as the plant's fruit. The development of these fruits follows a highly consistent morphological pattern, as evidenced by the standardized measurements of their dimensions. Specifically, the fruit length is remarkably uniform, exhibiting a minimum, mean, and maximum value of 1 cm. This consistency in fruit length suggests a stable reproductive strategy within the species, ensuring that the seed-bearing structures are optimally sized for dispersal. Once the fruit reaches maturity, it dehisces to release numerous tiny, brownish seeds, which are then distributed to facilitate the germination of new seedlings in suitable environmental conditions.

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Andrographis paniculata has 4 reported plant parts identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, root, rhizome.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Frontiers in genetics
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Preparative biochemistry & biotechnology
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Stem

1. Plant biotechnology journal
2. Natural product communications
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Natural product research
5. 3 Biotech

Root

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
2. Protoplasma
3. Frontiers in nutrition
4. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Rhizome

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Chemicals

Andrographis paniculata has 181 reported phytochemicals identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Andrographolide, Neoandrographolide, 14-Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide, 14-deoxyandrographolide, Flavonoids.

Andrographolide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
4. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
5. PloS one

Neoandrographolide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Functional plant biology : FPB
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology
5. Heliyon

14-Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology
3. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
4. Natural product research
5. BMC genomics

14-deoxyandrographolide

1. Functional plant biology : FPB
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology
4. Heliyon
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Journal of Asian natural products research
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
3. TheScientificWorldJournal
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dehydroandrographolide

1. Talanta
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Oncotarget
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
5. International journal of molecular sciences

andrograpanin

1. Functional plant biology : FPB
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of chromatographic science
4. The Journal of biological chemistry
5. Biotechnology and applied biochemistry

polyphenols

1. Journal of food biochemistry
2. Phytochemistry
3. International journal of medicinal chemistry
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Chinese medicine

CHLOROPHYLL

1. ACS applied bio materials
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
3. Protoplasma
4. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Saponins

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
2. Protoplasma
3. Environmental research
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Andrographis paniculata has 64 reported activities identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Antiviral, Antimicrobial, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of experimental biology
3. Frontiers in genetics
4. Plant disease
5. Toxicology and applied pharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of experimental biology
3. Plant disease
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Antiviral

1. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
2. Plant disease
3. Toxicology and applied pharmacology
4. Natural product communications
5. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Antimicrobial

1. Frontiers in genetics
2. Plant disease
3. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)
4. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products
5. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

Anticancer

1. Molecular informatics
2. Biotechnology and applied biochemistry
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
3. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Cureus

Antidiabetic

1. Plant disease
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Cureus
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Environmental research

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in genetics
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Expert opinion on therapeutic patents
5. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Plant disease
4. Medical archives (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
5. Heliyon

Conditions

Andrographis paniculata has 200 reported investigations on conditions identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, cancer, fever, oxidative stress, COVID-19.

Inflammation

1. Journal of natural products
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Phytochemistry
4. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)

Cancer

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. 3 Biotech
3. Molecular biology reports
4. BioMed research international
5. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Fever

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
3. Cureus
4. TheScientificWorldJournal
5. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet

Oxidative stress

1. Animal nutrition (Zhongguo xu mu shou yi xue hui)
2. Redox report : communications in free radical research
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
5. Environmental analysis, health and toxicology

Covid-19

1. 3 Biotech
2. Frontiers in immunology
3. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe
4. Infection and drug resistance
5. Biologia

Sars-cov-2

1. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
2. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
3. 3 Biotech
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Biologia

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Environmental research
4. Plant disease
5. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in genetics
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Plant disease
5. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Plant disease
4. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Antipyretic

1. Frontiers in genetics
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Applied microbiology and biotechnology
4. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Preparations

Andrographis paniculata has 116 reported preparations identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, extract, ethanol extract, methanol extract, Extracts.

Extracts

1. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
4. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
5. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe

Extract

1. Journal of helminthology
2. Cellular and molecular neurobiology
3. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Hindustan antibiotics bulletin

Ethanol extract

1. 3 Biotech
2. Scientific reports
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Veterinary world

Methanol extract

1. 3 Biotech
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Biochemistry research international
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Extracts

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition)
2. Journal of biomedical science
3. Planta medica

Andrographolide

1. Toxicology and applied pharmacology
2. Journal of natural products
3. Breast cancer research and treatment

Aqueous extract

1. Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology
2. Environmental analysis, health and toxicology
3. Molecular biology reports

Dried extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Water extract

1. 3 Biotech
2. Tropical biomedicine
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

85% etoh extract

1. Journal of natural products
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica