In traditional Chinese medicine it is an important herb used to release body heat in fever, effectively used as immunostimulant and for asthma, gonorrhea, piles, dysentery and dyspepsia, blood purification, influenza, gastric complaints, diarrhea, fever, loss of scalp hair, snake bite, myocardial ischemia, common cold, diabetes, respiratory tract infection, jaundice. The species also possesses antiulcerogenic , antityphoid, antiplatelet aggregation, anti HIV, antimalarial, antifertility, antihyperglycemic properties.

Andrographis paniculata shows different important medicinal activities like Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antileishmanial, antivenom, anti-HIV, antidiarrhoeal, antifertility, anticancer activity, antimalarial, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, antifungal activities and helpful in cardiovascular and immunological diseases.

Annual, erect, herb, about 40 to 80 cm. Stems quadrangular, multi-branched, branches knob point slightly inflated, easily broken. Leaves opposite; lanceolate to long elliptic, apex acuminate, base cuneate, margin shallow undulate, both surfaces glabrous, dark green above, gray-green below; petiole short or sub-sessile. Inflorescence terminal and axillary racemes; bracts and bracteoles small, lanceolate; Calyx 5-parted, outside covered with glandular hairs; corolla purplish white, bilipped, upper lip and outside bracteoles small, lanceolate; hairy. Capsule flat, oblong, about 1cm long, slightly glandular. Seeds square shape, small and red.

Aerial Part: Plant is herbaceous, up to 50 cm tall, annual, much branched. Leaves are 4-8cm x 1.5-2.5 cm in size, opposite, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, or narrowly elliptic, margin entire, apex acute to shortly acuminate; surface glabrous, lower surface pale green, upper surface green. Stem is green, quadrangular shape, glabrous; flowers are Axial, purplish white; fruits are capsule, oblong, about 1 cm. odour characteristic, taste bitter.

Leaf Midrib: Triangular shaped midrib. The epidermis is made up of columner cells. Upper epidermal cells are covered with cuticle. Upper bulge is filled with varying size of collenchyma cells. In lower bulges, epidermis is followed by 1-2 layers of collenchyma cells. Vascular bundle semilunar shaped, lies in centre of midrib. Vascular bundle is conjoint, collateral, endarch and closed. Leaf Lamina: Below the upper epidermis there is single layer of elongated palisade cells containing chlorophylls are present. Below palisade cells spongy parenchyma cells are present in the lamina. Stem: Stem quadrangular in shaped. Four bulges are present at each corner which are formed by collenchyma cells. Epidermis is made up of cubical to rectangular cells and covered with cuticle. Several collenchyma cell zones with secretary cavity are present beneath the epidermis which is filled with white colour deposition. Cortex is formed by narrow zone of 5-6 layers of parenchyma cells filled with chloroplasts. Solitary sclereids or single layer sclereids in groups are present in the inner side of cortex. Single layer of endodermis is present inner to the cortex. Pericycle is thin walled with paricyle fibres. Below the pericycle phloem is present. Xylem is very prominent and occupies the major portion of the stem. Vessels are mostly solitary. Pith consists of parenchymatous cells containing needle shaped

Visual: light green Taste: bitter odour: characteristic

Total Ash: 8.27 ± 0.05 Acid-insoluble ash: 1.03 ± 0.04 Sulphated ash: 12.19 ± 0.20 Water soluble extractive: 23.88 ± 1.30 Hydro-alcohol soluble extractive: 25.95 ± 0.60 Alcohol soluble extractive: 16.13 ± 0.45 *Value in percent (dry weight basis)