Andrographis

Andrographis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae. They may be generally known as the false waterwillows,[2] and several are called periyanagai.[3]

Andrographis
Andrographis echioides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Subfamily: Acanthoideae
Tribe: Andrographideae
Genus: Andrographis
Wall. ex Nees
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]
  • Erianthera Nees
  • Indoneesiella Sreem.
  • Neesiella Sreem.

The species are native to the Indian subcontinent (including Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the West Himalaya region).[1][4] Many are endemic to India.[5] They may be herbs or shrubs.[3] They are introduced and/or cultivated in Southeast Asia and some areas around the Caribbean.[1]

Some species are used medicinally. The best known is Andrographis paniculata, which is valued in Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha medicine. It is used to treat a very long list of illnesses and conditions.[4] A. alata and A. lineata are used in human and veterinary medicine.[3] Food use has also been recorded.[6]

It is currently (as of April 2021) accepted that there are 26 species in the genus.[1] These are:

  • Andrographis affinis Nees
  • Andrographis alata (Vahl) Nees
  • Andrographis atropurpurea (Dennst.) Alston
  • Andrographis beddomei C.B.Clarke
  • Andrographis chendurunii E.S.S.Kumar, A.E.S.Khan & S.G.Gopal
  • Andrographis echioides (L.) Nees
  • Andrographis elongata (Vahl) T.Anderson
  • Andrographis explicata (C.B.Clarke) Gamble
  • Andrographis glandulosa (B.Heyne ex Roth) Nees
  • Andrographis gracilis Nees
  • Andrographis lawsonii Gamble
  • Andrographis lineata Nees
  • Andrographis lobelioides Wight
  • Andrographis longipedunculata (Sreem.) L.H.Cramer ex Karthik. & Moorthy
  • Andrographis macrobotrys Nees
  • Andrographis megamalayana Gnanasek., Karupp. & G.V.S.Murthy
  • Andrographis neesiana Wight
  • Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees - Indian subcontinent (native), SE Asia (cultivated)
  • Andrographis producta (C.B.Clarke) Gamble
  • Andrographis rothii C.B.Clarke
  • Andrographis rotundifolia (Sreem.) Sreem.
  • Andrographis serpyllifolia (Rottler ex Vahl) Wight
  • Andrographis stellulata C.B.Clarke
  • Andrographis stenophylla C.B.Clarke
  • Andrographis subspathulata C.B.Clarke
  • Andrographis viscosula Nees

References
  1. "Andrographis Wall. ex Nees". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. Andrographis. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  3. Boopathi, C. A. (2000). Andrographis spp.: A source of bitter compounds for medicinal use. Anc Sci Life 19(3-4) 164-8.
  4. Niranjan, A., et al. (2010). Biological activities of kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata Nees) and its active principles - A review. Indian J Nat Prod Resour 1(2) 125-35.
  5. Gnanasekaran, G. and G. V. S. Murthy. (2012). Lectotypifications in Andrographis (Acanthaceae). Rheedia 22(2) 77-79.
  6. Pauline Dy Phon (2000). Plants Utilised In Cambodia/Plantes utilisées au Cambodge. Phnom Penh: Imprimerie Olympic. pp. 14, 15.
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