Summary
Andrographis paniculata, commonly known as ‘king of bitters,’ is an herb traditionally used in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Andrographis paniculata is used to treat the common cold. It is fairly effective when taken for three to five days after the symptoms first appear. However, there is limited human evidence for the effects of this herb, since research tends to focus on the combination therapy of Andrographis paniculata and Eleutherococcus senticosus, also known as Siberian ginseng, and not on Andrographis paniculata by itself.
Andrographis paniculata has also been studied for its anti-cancer effects. In vitro (outside the body) testing and animal research suggest that Andrographis paniculata has an anti-proliferative effect, meaning it is able to slow the spread of cancer cells. The herb does not appear to be able to induce cancer cell death, however.
The bioactive ingredients of Andrographis paniculata can be traced back to a single diterpene molecule called andrographolide.
Some studies have found that prolonged high-dosage Andrographis paniculata can cause toxicity in the testicles and liver. Further research is needed to confirm these effects, since some follow-up studies, using the same methods, failed to replicate the results. Andrographis paniculata is a promising supplement, though currently it is used most often to alleviate the symptoms of the common cold.
What are other names for King of Bitters
- Chiretta
- King Of Bitters
- Kalmegh
- Creat
- Chuanxinlian
- Yijianxi
- Lanhelian
- Indian Echinacea
- Andrographis Paniculata
Dosage information
The standard dose of Andrographis paniculata basic root extract is 2,000 – 6,000 mg.
Andrographis paniculata root extract tends to have 1-2% andrographolide content, by weight, though up to 4% has been reported.
Concentrated root extracts can have an andrographolide content of up to 30%. The standard dose for a concentrated extract is 200mg.
Examine Database: King of Bitters
Research FeedRead all studies
Research Breakdown
Examine Database References
- CD4 Lymphocytes - Calabrese C, Berman SH, Babish JG, Ma X, Shinto L, Dorr M, Wells K, Wenner CA, Standish LJA phase I trial of andrographolide in HIV positive patients and normal volunteersPhytother Res.(2000 Aug)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Saxena RC, Singh R, Kumar P, Yadav SC, Negi MP, Saxena VS, Joshua AJ, Vijayabalaji V, Goudar KS, Venkateshwarlu K, Amit AA randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical evaluation of extract of Andrographis paniculata (KalmCold) in patients with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infectionPhytomedicine.(2010 Mar)
- Sore Throat Symptoms - Thamlikitkul V, Dechatiwongse T, Theerapong S, Chantrakul C, Boonroj P, Punkrut W, Ekpalakorn W, Boontaeng N, Taechaiya S, Petcharoen S, et alEfficacy of Andrographis paniculata, Nees for pharyngotonsillitis in adultsJ Med Assoc Thai.(1991 Oct)
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Cáceres DD, Hancke JL, Burgos RA, Sandberg F, Wikman GKUse of visual analogue scale measurements (VAS) to asses the effectiveness of standardized Andrographis paniculata extract SHA-10 in reducing the symptoms of common cold. A randomized double blind-placebo studyPhytomedicine.(1999 Oct)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms - Burgos RA, Hancke JL, Bertoglio JC, Aguirre V, Arriagada S, Calvo M, Cáceres DDEfficacy of an Andrographis paniculata composition for the relief of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms: a prospective randomized placebo-controlled trialClin Rheumatol.(2009 Aug)
- Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms - Tang T, Targan SR, Li ZS, Xu C, Byers VS, Sandborn WJRandomised clinical trial: herbal extract HMPL-004 in active ulcerative colitis - a double-blind comparison with sustained release mesalazineAliment Pharmacol Ther.(2011 Jan)
- Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms - Sandborn WJ, Targan SR, Byers VS, Rutty DA, Mu H, Zhang X, Tang TAndrographis paniculata Extract (HMPL-004) for Active Ulcerative ColitisAm J Gastroenterol.(2013 Jan)