What are the effects and functions of Andrographis paniculata

We often see lotus seeds in the supermarket. There is a green bud in the middle of the white lotus seeds. This bud is called Andrographis paniculata. In fact, the health benefits of lotus seeds are mainly in Andrographis paniculata. Andrographis paniculata can be used as medicine. It tastes bitter and many people don’t like it. It is very effective in clearing heat and detoxifying. If there is mild edema in a certain place, you can eat Andrographis paniculata to relieve it. So in the future, when we buy lotus seeds, we must not remove the Andrographis paniculata. What are the effects and functions of Andrographis paniculata?

Andrographis paniculata is a plant of the genus Andrographis in the family Acanthaceae. The whole plant or leaves can be used as medicine under the name Andrographis paniculata. Andrographis paniculata is bitter and enters the human heart, hence the name Andrographis paniculata. However, it is a bitter medicine. Andrographis paniculata has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling and relieving pain. Andrographis paniculata has many aliases. In "Lingnan Medicinal Records", it is also known as Spring Lotus and Autumn Willow, in "Quanzhou Materia Medica", it is called One Sight Joy, in "Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines" of Guangzhou Army, it is also called Olive Lotus, Bitter Gall Grass, Snake-Slaying Sword, and Cone-Bearded Herb, and in "Guangdong Chinese Herbal Medicine" it is also known as Riqiqianli, Four-Sided Lotus, Golden Grass, Golden Ear Hook, Spring Lotus and Summer Willow, Indian Grass, and in "Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine" it is called Bitter Grass, etc. Andrographis paniculata is native to India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries. Its growth environment is mainly humid plains and hilly areas. It likes warm and humid climate and is afraid of drought. The most suitable temperature for seeds is 25-30℃ and higher humidity. It is afraid of high temperature in the seedling stage. The most suitable temperature for plant growth is 25-30℃. At 15-20℃, it grows slowly. The plants wither at 0℃ or frost. Mature plants like light and fertilizer. In the growing season, applying more nitrogen fertilizer and coordinating watering and drainage are the keys to high yields. In my country, Andrographis paniculata is mainly produced in Guangdong and Fujian, but now it is introduced for cultivation in the warm regions north and south of the Yangtze River, and it can be found wild in some tropical and subtropical areas.

Composition of Andrographis paniculata

1. Andrographolide contains a large amount of diterpenes, such as andrographolide, 14-deoxyandrographolide, neoandrographolide, andrographolide aglycone, 3α-hydroxyandrographolide, 14-deoxy-12-methoxyandrographolide and andrographolide; in addition, it also contains carvacrol, eugenol, myristic acid, heatricarboxane and tritriacontane.

2. Andrographis paniculata also contains oroxylin A, andrographol flavonoids, 5,2-dihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavone, 3-O-methyl andrographol flavonoids, apigenin-4,7-dimethyl ether, 5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavanone, 5-hydroxy-3,7,8,2-tetramethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxyflavone, andrographol flavonoids A, B, C, D, E and F, as well as flavonoids such as α-sitosterol and baicalin.

3. The polyphenols contained in Andrographis paniculata include a mixture of caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and dicaffeoylsilanin.

The efficacy and function of Andrographis paniculata

Andrographis paniculata has many functions. For example, it is mentioned in "Clinical Application of Traditional Chinese Medicine" that it can be used to treat bronchopneumonia; it is recorded in "Jiangxi Herbal Medicine" that it can be used to treat cholecystitis; and it is recorded in "Quanzhou Materia Medica" that it can be used to treat colds, fever, headaches, and hot diarrhea.

Let’s take a closer look at the effects and functions of Andrographis paniculata .

1. Because Andrographis paniculata has anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects, it can be used to treat various infectious diseases, including traumatic infection, upper respiratory tract infection, acute and chronic tonsillitis, acute and chronic pharyngitis, acute and chronic bronchitis, as well as acute bacillary dysentery, acute gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, otitis media, periodontitis, etc., all with varying degrees of efficacy.

2. Andrographis paniculata can treat leptospirosis, but there will be mild abdominal pain, diarrhea, back pain, dizziness, headache and other symptoms during the medication period.

3. Andrographis paniculata is effective in treating typhoid fever, acute icteric hepatitis, and Japanese encephalitis in children.

4. Intramuscular injection of Andrographis paniculata can be used to treat pneumonia and other respiratory tract inflammation, pediatric indigestion and bacillary dysentery, thromboangiitis obliterans, etc.

5. In addition, Andrographis paniculata can also be used to treat leprosy, snake bites, malignant hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma, neurodermatitis, eczema, etc. It can be said that the whole plant is a treasure!

Andrographis paniculata is suitable for people

Although Chuanxinliang has significant effects and is suitable for most people, those suffering from yang deficiency and weak spleen and stomach should take it with caution.