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 (1832)
Species

See text

Synonyms[1]
  • Erianthera Nees (1832)
  • Indoneesiella Sreem. (1968)
  • Neesiella Sreem. (1967), nom. illeg.

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:

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Andrographis Wall. ex Nees". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. ^ Andrographis. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  3. ^ a b c Boopathi, C. A. (2000). Andrographis spp.: A source of bitter compounds for medicinal use. Anc Sci Life 19(3-4) 164-8.
  4. ^ a b 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.