Andrographin is a diterpenoid glycoside that can be isolated from the leaves of Andrographin. Andrographin has anti hepatitis and antioxidant effects. Andrographin has a protective effect on liver toxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride or tert butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) in mice [1].

Andrographis Paniculata P.E 

The whole plant extract of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees, a 1-year-old herbaceous plant in the family Acanthaceae, mainly contains lactones and flavonoids. The lactone components mainly include Andrographis paniculata lactone, neoAndrographis paniculata lactone, deoxygenated Andrographis paniculata lactone, dehydrated Andrographis paniculata lactone, Andrographis paniculata glycoside, etc. It has antipyretic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-tumor, hepatoprotective, bile promoting, platelet aggregation and anti thrombotic, anti snake venom, and improves immune function.

Main components and properties

Contains several types of lipids and flavonoids. The main types of lactones include Deoxyandrographolide, Andrographolide, Neoandrographolide, and Dehydroandrographolide. Flavonoids are mainly methoxyflavones. It also contains phenolic substances such as sterol saponins, sugars, and condensed tannins.

1. Andrographolide: Synonymous with Andrographolide B, molecular formula C20H30O5, molecular weight 350.44. Colorless square or rectangular crystals with extremely bitter taste. MP.230 ℃~231 ℃, easily soluble in acetone, methanol, and ethanol, slightly soluble in chloroform and ether, insoluble in water, petroleum ether, and benzene.

2. New andrographolide: synonymous with andrographolide, andrographolide. Molecular formula C26H40O8, molecular weight 480.58. Colorless columnar crystals, no bitterness, mp.167 ℃~168 ℃. Easily soluble in methanol, ethanol, and acetone, slightly soluble in water, but less soluble in benzene, ether, and chloroform.

3. Deoxyandrographolide: Synonymous with andrographolide A. Molecular formula C20H30O4, molecular weight 334.44. Colorless flakes (acetone, ethanol or chloroform) or colorless needle like crystals (ethyl acetate), MP.174 ℃~175 ℃, easily soluble in methanol, ethanol, propanol, chloroform, soluble in benzene and ether.

4. Dehydrated andrographolide: Molecular formula C20H28O4, molecular weight 332.42. Colorless needle shaped crystals (30% or 50% ethanol), MP.204 ℃, easily soluble in ethanol and acetone, soluble in chloroform, slightly soluble in benzene, almost insoluble in water.

1. Enhancing immune function. Sulfonated andrographolide can enhance the phagocytic ability of white blood cells to bacteria in the body. There are also reports that andrographolide can enhance the ability of mouse peritoneal macrophages and neutrophils to phagocytose Candida albicans or Staphylococcus aureus in vitro, and enhance the activity of mouse peripheral blood lysozyme. If used equivalently with white blood cell phagocytosis inhibitors such as gentamicin, tetracycline, and erythromycin, the function of Chuanxinlian is weakened or inhibited.

2. Antibacterial effect: The 5% decoction has an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus; 20% decoction has an inhibitory effect on Proteus; 40% of the decoction has an inhibitory effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus hemolyticus, Shigella dysentery, and Salmonella typhi. The new Chuanxinlian lactone isolated from Chuanxinlian has a clinical efficacy similar to chloramphenicol and levofloxacin in treating bacterial dysentery, and has no side effects.

3. Anti cancer effect: Dehydrated andrographolide succinate hemiester has a certain inhibitory effect on W256 transplanted tumors. Dehydrated andrographolide dihydrogen dihydrogen succinate is used to produce arginine complex salt (abbreviated as andrographolide), which has inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth in high, medium, and low doses. The effect increases with the increase of dose, and the anti-tumor effect is indeed stable.

4. Antipyretic effect: Andrographis paniculata extract has an antipyretic effect on fever in rabbits caused by bacterial vaccines.

5. Antiviral effect: Chuanxinlian decoction has a delaying effect on the degeneration of human embryonic kidney cells caused by orphan virus ECHO11.

6. The crude crystals extracted from the leaves of Andrographis paniculata have an inhibitory effect on Leptospira. Deoxyandrographolide has a therapeutic effect on leptospirosis and is more sensitive to febrile, Australian, and influenza typhoid types.

7. When taking 15-30 grams of Chuanxinlian orally, nausea and decreased appetite may occur, and in some cases, urticaria may occur.