Role of Green Chiretta [Andaphis paniculata (Burm. F.)] Nees in Diabetes and Other Ailments

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Nees is a valuable medicinal herb of the Acanthaceae family that is usually grown in China, Southeast Asia and Europe. The herb has high medicinal properties which are traditionally used as antibacterial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and hepatoprotective. A. paniculata is also recommended to enhance sexual dysfunctions and is used as contraceptive. Various kinds of active phytochemical constituents are derived from the extracts of the whole plant parts such as diterpenoids, flavonoids, entlabdane noriridoids, xanthones and quinic acids. The present review discusses the traditional importance of the species as well as efficacy of the herbs in diabetes and other diseases. Further pharmacological research is needed to discover the potentials of the herb’s phytochemicals.