Andrographis Paniculata, often known as kalmegh extract, is a key component of traditional medicine. It is used to treat a wide range of illnesses in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and homeopathy. From Uttar Pradesh to Kerala, in all of tropical India's plains and hills, as well as in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and all of South East Asia, it grows wild there. Plants are known as the king of bitter since every component of them is incredibly bitter. In Malaysia, this plant is known as Hempedu Bumi, which translates to "bile of earth." It is used in Ayurveda to treat a variety of conditions involving vitiated Pitta and Kapha in the liver, skin, and intestine.
According to Ayurvedic theory, an excessive amount of Pitta can disrupt liver enzymes, which causes cell inflammation and an increase in the body's virus load. This causes a rise in body temperature and the onset of fever symptoms; under these circumstances, Kalmegh/Andrographis powder is helpful. It supports antiviral and antibacterial action, which lowers fever and body and muscle discomfort.
Treatment of disorders connected to the liver benefits greatly from kalmegh. It demonstrates hepato-stimulative and hepato-protective properties. Jaundice is treated with an aqueous extract of Kalmegh in traditional medicine. The bitter flavor of kalmegh/andrographis aids in food digestion and inhibits the buildup of toxic waste and flatulence in the body. It helps to clean the liver cells and promotes the liver's detoxification process. The cleansing and purifying qualities of Kalmegh have also been demonstrated. When used with antioxidants like amla, Kalmegh/Andrographis powder helps to get rid of free radicals and rebuild liver cells.
The presence of diterpenes (of which andrographolide is the predominant component) and flavonoids in kalmegh/andrographis supports its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and high blood glucose (postprandial) lowering abilities. The aqueous extract of Kalmegh/Andrographis was shown in the study to have antibacterial and antiviral properties.