It is an erect annual herb. Stem is dark green, quadrangular with longitudinal furrows and wings on the angles of the younger parts and slightly enlarged at the nodes. The leaves are glabrous, dark green, arranged opposite decussate, lanceolate and pinnate. The flowers are small, in lax spreading axillary and terminal racemes or panicles. The capsules are linear-oblong and acute at both ends. The seeds are numerous, sub-quadrate and yellowish brown in colour.

Astringent, anodyne, tonic, alexipharmic, tonic, febrifuge, stomachic, cholagogue, stimulant, aperient, antityphoid, antifungal, protects liver, antidiabetic and cholinergic (plant); lowers blood pressure (leaf); antibacterial (shoot).

Andrographis paniculata

Andrographolide, neoandrographolide (plant); homoandrographolide, andrographosterol and andrographone (leaf).

Fever, stomach problems, diarrhea, dysentery and indigestion (plant decoction); auto-immune disorders, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, insect bites, cholera, diabetes, malaria, tuberculosis, rabies and snakebite.

Although andrographis has been found to be safe in humans, animal studies suggest it may impair fertility.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.