Phytochemical and Pharmacological Perspective of Selected Andrographis Species: A Comparative Review

Abstract

The present review aims to compare the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical composition and selected pharmacological activities of A. paniculata, A. echioides, A. lineata, and A. alata using standardized extraction and in-vitro assay protocols. Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees is a well-known medicinal plant widely used in Asian traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory properties, largely attributed to the diterpenoid lactone andrographolide and related constituents. The other Andrographis species such as Andrographis echioides (L.) Nees, Andrographis lineata Wall. ex-Nees and Andrographis alata (Vahl) Nees are also used locally in folk medicine in India but remain comparatively underexplored with respect to their phytochemical profiles and pharmacological activities. Existing studies indicate that A. echioides contains diverse flavonoids, phenyl glycosides and other secondary metabolites with anti-oxidant and in vitro anti-inflammatory effects; A. lineata exhibits notable anti-bacterial potential; and A. alata possesses andrographolide-related diterpenes, flavone glycosides and documented anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and hepatoprotective activities.