Introduction : Andrographis paniculata (N.O. Acanthaceae) is an annual shrub that grows wild in the plains of Asia and is cultivated in gardens in North India. It has been used in the traditional system of medicine as a stomachic, tonic, antipyretic, alterative, anthelmintic, febrifuge and cholagogue. It is an important constituent of various traditional Indian herbal formulations used in the treatment of infectious diseases, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, acute enteritis, red dysentery, urethritis, nephritis, pustular dermatitis and purulent otitis media. The leaf is the part used medicinally. In recent years, this plant is being used in the treatment of the common cold, for reducing its symptoms and duration.
A comparative evaluation of paracetamol and A. paniculata was performed in 152 patients with pharyngo-tonsillitis. A. paniculata (6 g) was as effective as paracetamol in reducing the symptoms of the common cold. The above studies validate the efficacy of Andrographis paniculata extract in the treatment of uncomplicated common cold. Studies on mice have proven that the andrographolide compounds present in A. paniculata are relatively non-toxic.
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Write up (3 pages) for Andographis Paniculata - Muhammed Majeed, Ph.D and Lakshmi Prakash, Ph.D., Sabinsa Corporation, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Acute respiratory infections represent a significant cause of over prescription of antibiotics and are one of the major reasons for absence from work. The leaves of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall ex Nees (Acanthaceae) are used as a medicinal herb in the treatment of infectious diseases. Systematic literature searches were conducted in six computerised databases and the reference lists of all papers located were checked for further relevant publications. Information was also requested from manufacturers, the spontaneous reporting schemes of the World Health Organisation and national drug safety bodies. No language restrictions were imposed. Seven double-blind, controlled trials (n = 896) met the inclusion criteria for evaluation of efficacy. All trials scored at least three, out of a maximum of five, for methodological quality on the Jadad scale. Collectively, the data suggest that A. paniculata is superior to placebo in alleviating the subjective symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection. There is also preliminary evidence of a preventative effect. Adverse events reported following administration of A. paniculata were generally mild and infrequent. There were few spontaneous reports of adverse events. A. paniculata may be a safe and efficacious treatment for the relief of symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection; more research is warranted.
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Andrographis paniculata in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections : a systematic review of safety and efficacy / J.T. Coon

Abstract : Non-polar (dichloromethane) and polar (MeOH and aqueous) extracts of Andrographis paniculata (whole plant) were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against 10 skin disease causing bacterial strains (6 gram positive strains; Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus anthracis, Micrococcus luteus) and 4 gram negative strains (Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Neisseria meningitis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) using disc diffusion method at three different concentrations; 1000, 500 and 250 μg/disc respectively. The extracts showed significant antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains tested. Highest significant antibacterial activity was exerted by the aqueous extract against M. luteus at 1000 μg/disc and the least activity was exhibited by the DCM extract against N. meningitis at 250 μg/disc. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) observed were between 150 to 300 μg/ml and 250 to 400 μg/ml respectively, depending on microorganism and the nature of various extracts. Time-kill experiments indicated that A. paniculata extracts have bactericidal characteristic against most of the Gram positive bacteria and bacteriostatic activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria. These results candidly suggest the presence of promising antibacterial substances in the polar as well as non-polar extracts which could be the source of potential phytomedicine for the treatment of skin infections caused by the pathogenic bacterial strains. Our findings explicitly support its traditional claims and form a strong basis for further sincere efforts to explore A. paniculata’s antibacterial potential to treat skin frailties efficaciously.
Key words: Andrographis paniculata, antimicrobial activity, skin infections, disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration, time to kill assay.
Bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of Andrographis paniculata extracts on skin disease causing pathogenic bacteria - Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(1), pp. 7-14, 4 January, 2011 - Abubakar Sule, Qamar U. Ahmed, Othman A. Samah and Muhammad N. Omar