''Andrographis paniculata'', commonly known as creat or green chiretta,
is an annual
herbaceous
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition of ...
plant in the family
Acanthaceae
Acanthaceae () is a Family (biology), family (the acanthus family) of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing almost 250 genera and about 2500 species. Most are Tropics, tropical Herbaceous plant, herbs, shrubs, or twining vines; some are epip ...
, native to India and Sri Lanka.
It is widely cultivated in Southern and Southeastern Asia, where it has been believed to be a treatment for bacterial
infection
An infection is the invasion of tissue (biology), tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host (biology), host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmis ...
s and some diseases. Mostly the
leaves
A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...
and
root
In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...
s have been used for such purposes; the whole plant is also used, in some cases.
Description
The plant grows as an erect herb to a height of in moist, shady places. The slender stem is dark green, square in cross-section with longitudinal furrows and wings along the angles. The lance-shaped leaves have hairless blades measuring up to long by . The small flowers are pink, solitary, arranged in lax spreading
raceme
A raceme () or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate growth, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are ...
s or
panicle
In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...
s. The fruit is a capsule around long and a few millimeters wide. It contains many yellow-brown seeds. The seeds are subquadrate, rugose and glabrous. The flowering time is September to December.
Distribution
The species is distributed in tropical Asian countries, often in isolated patches. It can be found in a variety of habitats, such as plains, hillsides, coastlines, and disturbed and cultivated areas such as roadsides and farms. Native populations of ''A. paniculata'' are spread throughout south India and Sri Lanka which perhaps represent the center of origin and diversity of the species. The herb is an
introduced species
An introduced species, alien species, exotic species, adventive species, immigrant species, foreign species, non-indigenous species, or non-native species is a species living outside its native distributional range, but which has arrived ther ...
in northern parts of India, Java, Malaysia, Indonesia, the West Indies, and elsewhere in the Americas. The species also occurs in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, and other parts of Asia where it may or may not be native. The plant is cultivated in many areas, as well.
Unlike other species of the genus, ''A. paniculata'' is of common occurrence in most places in India, including the plains and hilly areas up to , which accounts for its wide use.
In India the major source of plant is procured from its wild habitat. The plant is categorised as Low Risk or of Least Concern by the IUCN. Under the trade name ''Kalmegh'', on average of the plant is traded in India.
Cultivation
The plant does best in a sunny location. The seeds are sown during May and June (northern hemisphere). The seedlings are transplanted at a distance of .
Vernacular names
*''creat'' (English)
[
*''green chireta'' (English)][
*''king of bitter''
*''phtuhs' (smau)'' (''phtuhs="explosion", ''smau''="grass", referring to sound of its ripe fruit opening, ]Khmer language
Khmer ( ; , Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ) is an Austroasiatic language spoken natively by the Khmer people. This language is an official language and national language of Cambodia. The language is also widely spoken by Khmer people i ...
)Standard Chinese
Standard Chinese ( zh, s=现代标准汉语, t=現代標準漢語, p=Xiàndài biāozhǔn hànyǔ, l=modern standard Han speech) is a modern standard form of Mandarin Chinese that was first codified during the republican era (1912–1949). ...
)
*''roi des amers'' (French)[
]
Uses and Safety Concerns
Alternative medicine
Traditional Use
''A. paniculata'' has been used in Siddha
''Siddha'' (Sanskrit: '; "perfected one") is a term that is used widely in Indian religions and culture. It means "one who is accomplished." It refers to perfected masters who have achieved a high degree of perfection of the intellect as we ...
and Ayurvedic medicine, and is promoted as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and cure. There is no evidence that it helps prevent or cure cancer.
In the traditional medicine
Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) refers to the knowledge, skills, and practices rooted in the cultural beliefs of various societies, especially Indigenous groups, used for maintaining health and treatin ...
of India, ''A. paniculata'' has also been used for jaundice
Jaundice, also known as icterus, is a yellowish or, less frequently, greenish pigmentation of the skin and sclera due to high bilirubin levels. Jaundice in adults is typically a sign indicating the presence of underlying diseases involving ...
therapy.
''A. paniculata'' has also traditionally been used in India and China for the common cold and influenza. A 2017 (pre COVID-19) meta-analysis
Meta-analysis is a method of synthesis of quantitative data from multiple independent studies addressing a common research question. An important part of this method involves computing a combined effect size across all of the studies. As such, th ...
evaluating ''Andrographis paniculata'' for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) indicated possible support for its efficacy and safety, but cautioned that the trials reviewed were of poor quality and thus not conclusive.
COVID-19
Amid Thailand's COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
outbreak in December 2020, the country's health ministry
A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entity, Subnational entities, such as State (administrative division), states, county, counties an ...
approved the usage of the plant extract for a pilot alternative treatment program. In July 2021, the Cabinet of Thailand
The cabinet of Thailand (formally, the Council of Ministers of Thailand; ; is a body composed of thirty-five of the most senior members of the government of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Cabinet (government), cabinet is the primary organ of the ...
approved the use of green chiretta to treat asymptomatic COVID patients after the Thai Corrections Department said the drug was beneficial in prison inmates. Claims as to its efficacy as a COVID therapeutic are contentious and in dispute.
Safety Concerns
The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration's evaluation of the safety concern regarding the herb "is ongoing".
"This includes further strengthening labelling requirements and/or restrictions on the availability of Andrographis paniculata as an ingredient," a TGA spokesperson said.
A 2012 review found that ''A. paniculata'' extracts could inhibit expression of several cytochrome C enzymes and thus interfere with metabolism of other pharmaceuticals.
Food
In Cambodia the dried root macerated in alcohol is consumed as an aperitive, while the seeds make a black jelly called ''chahuoy khmau''.
Chemistry
Andrographolide is the major constituent extracted from the leaves of the plant and is a bicyclic diterpenoid lactone
Lactones are cyclic carboxylic esters. They are derived from the corresponding hydroxycarboxylic acids by esterification. They can be saturated or unsaturated.
Lactones are formed by lactonization, the intramolecular esterification of the corresp ...
. This bitter principle was isolated in pure form by Gorter in 1911. Systematic studies on chemistry of ''A. paniculata'' have been carried out.
Some known constituents are:
*14-Deoxy-11-dehydroandrographolide, Plant
*14-Deoxy-11-oxoandrographolide, Plant
*5-Hydroxy-7,8,2',3'-Tetramethoxyflavone, Plant
*5-Hydroxy-7,8,2'-Trimethoxyflavone, Tissue Culture
*Andrographine, Root
*Andrographolide, Plant
*Neoandrographolide, Plant
*Panicoline, Root
*Paniculide-A, Plant
*Paniculide-B, Plant
*Paniculide-C, Plant[
]
See also
* List of ineffective cancer treatments
* Xiyanping
References
Further reading
*
External links
''Andrographis'' (www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au)Dr. Duke's Database
* Contains a detailed monograph on ''Andrographis paniculatus'' (Bhunimba) as well as a discussion of health benefits and usage in clinical practice. Available online at https://web.archive.org/web/20110519163542/http://www.toddcaldecott.com/index.php/herbs/learning-herbs/390-bhunimba
*
Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees
Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University)
穿心蓮, Common Andrographis Herb, Chuan Xin Lian
Chinese Medicine Specimen Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University)
Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1551608
Acanthaceae
Edible plants
Flora of the Indian subcontinent
Medicinal plants of Asia
Taxa named by Nicolaas Laurens Burman
Lamiales of Asia