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 | |
|---|---|
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| Andrographis echioides | |
Scientific classification 
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| 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 | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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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:
- Andrographis affinis Nees
- Andrographis alata (Vahl) Nees
- Andrographis atropurpurea (Dennst.) Alston
- Andrographis beddomei C.B.Clarke
- Andrographis chendurunii E.S.S.Kumar, A.E.S.Khan & S.G.Gopal
- Andrographis echioides (L.) Nees
- Andrographis elongata (Vahl) T.Anderson
- Andrographis explicata (C.B.Clarke) Gamble
- Andrographis glandulosa (B.Heyne ex Roth) Nees
- Andrographis gracilis Nees
- Andrographis lawsonii Gamble
- Andrographis lineata Nees
- Andrographis lobelioides Wight
- Andrographis longipedunculata (Sreem.) L.H.Cramer ex Karthik. & Moorthy
- Andrographis macrobotrys Nees
- Andrographis megamalayana Gnanasek., Karupp. & G.V.S.Murthy
- Andrographis neesiana Wight
- Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees - Indian subcontinent (native), SE Asia (cultivated)
- Andrographis producta (C.B.Clarke) Gamble
- Andrographis rothii C.B.Clarke
- Andrographis rotundifolia (Sreem.) Sreem.
- Andrographis serpyllifolia (Rottler ex Vahl) Wight
- Andrographis stellulata C.B.Clarke
- Andrographis stenophylla C.B.Clarke
- Andrographis subspathulata C.B.Clarke
- Andrographis viscosula Nees
References edit
- ^ a b c d "Andrographis Wall. ex Nees". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Andrographis. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gnanasekaran, G. and G. V. S. Murthy. (2012). Lectotypifications in Andrographis (Acanthaceae). Rheedia 22(2) 77-79.
- ^ Pauline Dy Phon (2000). Plants Utilised In Cambodia/Plantes utilisées au Cambodge. Phnom Penh: Imprimerie Olympic. pp. 14, 15.