Know2eat

Andrographis

Andrographis paniculata

Herbs & Botanicals

What andrographis may help with

Ranked by how strong the human evidence is — best supported first.

Best supportedImmune functionLimited evidence· 4 sources

Then, in order

About Andrographis

An intensely bitter leaf extract used in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, standardised to the diterpene lactone andrographolide.

Andrographis has more randomised trials for acute respiratory infection than most botanicals, and reviews report a consistent direction of effect on cough and sore throat scores. The trials are nonetheless small, mostly conducted in Asia, frequently use a fixed combination with eleuthero, and are rated as having a high risk of bias. Symptom-score endpoints are also unusually placebo-responsive.

Sold as
Standardised extract tablet, Capsule, Dried leaf, Combination formula
Standardised to
Commonly 10–30% andrographolides; trials often specify total andrographolide per dose — a product without this marker may not resemble what was studied.
Also known as
Kalmegh, King of bitters, Chuan xin lian

What the research used

The amounts, forms and durations published trials of Andrographis actually administered.

These are the amounts published trials administered — not a recommendation, and not a dose to copy. Trial participants were screened, supervised and given a characterised preparation. What is in a retail bottle is frequently not what was studied, and the amount that suits one person is not general advice.

  • Studied for Acute upper respiratory infection symptoms

    60–200 mg

    Limited

    Standardised extract, expressed as andrographolides, divided doses · 3–7 days

    A large share of these trials used one fixed combination product containing eleuthero, so the effect cannot be attributed to andrographis alone. Retail products state extract weight rather than andrographolide content, which makes them hard to compare.

This is general information about food, not medical advice. It cannot diagnose, treat or replace guidance from a clinician who knows your history.

When it was taken

Each window says whether a trial compared it against an alternative, or whether it is convention and pharmacology. Most timing advice is the second kind.

None of the timings below were directly compared in a trial. They reflect how the research happened to dose, or what the pharmacology implies — which is not the same as a timing being better.

  • With food

    Not enough

    Usually taken with food because it is extremely bitter and commonly causes nausea on an empty stomach. Absorption with food has not been formally compared.

    Timing was not directly compared. This reflects convention or how the compound behaves in the body, not a trial showing this window works better.

The evidence in depth

Best supported: Limited

What each association actually rests on, and the papers behind it. A rating describes the state of the research, not how promising the supplement sounds. How we rate evidence.

Immune function

Immune Health
Limited evidence

Reviews report that andrographis reduces cough and sore throat severity in acute respiratory infection compared with placebo. The underlying trials are small, largely from one region, often used a combination product, and are rated poor quality.

Limited evidence. Early human work, or mostly lab and animal research.

View the 4 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Joint comfort

Joint Health
Not enough evidence

Evidence is limited for andrographis and joint symptoms. A small number of trials in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis exist, but they are too few and too small to draw conclusions from.

Not enough evidence. Not enough human research to say anything useful yet.

View the 4 sources

Deep research mode adds each paper’s own conclusion and stated limitations.

Things to know

Interactions, contraindications and dose limits, most serious first. Concentrated extracts interact with medication in ways the whole plant does not, so this section carries more weight here than it does on a food page.

  • Worth knowing

    Allergic and anaphylactic reactions

    Rash, urticaria and anaphylaxis have been reported, and Swedish regulators recorded a cluster of allergic reactions to one combination product. Any rash or swelling means stopping immediately.

  • Avoid

    Pregnancy

    Traditional use includes ending pregnancy, and animal work supports an abortifacient effect. It should not be used in pregnancy.

  • Worth knowing

    Male fertility questions

    Animal studies at high doses report testicular changes and reduced fertility. Human data are absent, but it is a reasonable ground for caution for men trying to conceive.

  • Interaction

    Blood pressure, glucose and clotting medication

    Interacts withAntihypertensives, insulin and oral antidiabetics, warfarin

    Andrographis has been reported to lower blood pressure and blood glucose and to affect platelet aggregation, so it may add to antihypertensives, antidiabetic drugs and anticoagulants.

  • Worth knowing

    Autoimmune disease and immunosuppressants

    Interacts withImmunosuppressants

    Immune-modulating activity means it is conventionally avoided alongside immunosuppressant medication and in active autoimmune disease.

Evidence ratings on this page: 1 limited evidence, 1 not enough evidence.

Supplements are sold in the US without pre-market review of efficacy or safety. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to take Andrographis, or a dose to follow.