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| Latin Name |
English Name |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Name |
Andrographis paniculata
(Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae)
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The Creat
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Bhunimba,
Yavatikta |
Kalamegha |
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| History |
The plant is
well known in Bengal by the name 'Kalmeg'. It is a principal
herb in the domestic medicine called 'Alui', which is given
to infants. Both in Ayurveda and Unani, it is confused with
'Chitetta' (Swertia chirata), but both are different
plants. It is widely available in ArabiaIt is mentioned in the
official pharmacopoeia of India.. It is given for fever along
with several herbs. It was advertised in England as a substitute
for quinine.
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| Habitat |
It grows throughout
India from Assam and Himanchal Pradesh to all over south India.
Grows well in moist and shaded places, but it prefers sunny
situations. It is cultivated all over India.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
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It is an erect annual herb. Stem is dark green, quadrangular with
longitudinal furrows and wings on the angles of the younger parts
and slightly enlarged at the nodes. The leaves are glabrous, dark
green, arranged opposite decussate, lanceolate and pinnate. The
flowers are small, in lax spreading axillary and terminal racemes
or panicles. The capsules are linear-oblong and acute at both ends.
The seeds are numerous, sub-quadrate and yellowish brown in colour.
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| Principal
Constituents |
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Andrographolide was isolated and its structure was elucidated1.
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| Pharmacology |
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It increases biliary flow and liver weight in rat2.
It shows hepatoprotective action3. It improves non-specific
immune response4. Andrographolide produces a significant
dose dependent choleretic effect, as evidence by increase in bile
flow, bile salt and bile acids in conscious rats and anaesthetised
guinea pigs5.
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| Toxicology |
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There is no adverse effect reported on use of this plant.
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| Indications |
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It is the principal ingredient of a reputed household medicine,
which is used as a bitter tonic and febrifuge. The decoction of
the juice is blood purifying.
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| Product
Range |
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Purim (HemoCare).
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| References |
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J. Sci. Ind. Res., 1964, 1, 14.
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Indian J. Exp. Biol. 1978, 16, 830.
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Indian J. Med. Res., 1990, 92(B), 276-283.
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J. Nat. Prod., 1993, 56(7), 995-999.
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Anonymous, 1998, Wealth Asia CD-ROM, CSIR, New Delhi.
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