Supplement
Andrographis is a bitter herb from South and Southeast Asia whose compounds appear to calm inflammation and stimulate immune activity. Most people look at it for acute respiratory infections such as colds, and a large meta-analysis found symptoms improved versus placebo, usual care and other herbal therapies, with cough and sore throat easing too. Those cough and sore throat trials were fairly small, though, and the evidence for flu is limited.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 7 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade A
- Conditions studied
- 3
- Outcomes
- 5
- Graded outcomes
- 3200
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
Upper Respiratory Infection
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| URTI Symptoms Significantly improves overall ARTI symptoms vs placebo, usual care, and other herbal therapies (meta-analysis) | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 7,175 people | |||
| Cough Significant improvement in cough (SMD -0.39) compared to placebo | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 596 people | |||
| Sore Throat Large effect on sore throat symptoms (SMD -1.13) vs placebo | Changes; see studies | Large effect | 314 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RA Markers Reduced rheumatoid factor, IgA, and C4 levels | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 60 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD4+ Count Significant increase in CD4+ counts; enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity (45%) | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 30 people |
Key findings
- URTI SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
- CoughImproves (the measure goes down)
- Sore ThroatChanges; see studies
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Andrographis products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade A
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Studies cited
7 studies from PubMed
- Safety of Andrographis paniculata: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Overview of pharmacological activities of Andrographis paniculata and its major compound andrographolide
- Andrographis paniculata (Chuān Xīn Lián) for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory tract infections in adults and children: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Is there a future for andrographolide to be an anti-inflammatory drug? Deciphering its major mechanisms of action
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology of Andrographis paniculata and Its Major Bioactive Phytoconstituent Andrographolide
- Andrographis paniculata in the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection: systematic review of randomized controlled trials
- Andrographis paniculata in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections: a systematic review of safety and efficacy