Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
The EMA dossier includes a public statement, with no adopted therapeutic monograph. This profile does not validate the promises of marketed products.
Also known as: Kalmegh
The botanical name, part and preparation must match. A photograph is not enough for identification intended for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Insufficient evidence
No therapeutic use is recommended here on the basis of this dossier.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
The following warnings do not constitute a complete review of interactions or contraindications. An unstudied combination cannot be considered compatible.
Contraindications & precautions
- Do not use in cases of known allergy to this plant.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions are not detailed here: have a pharmacist check treatments and the preparation.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- This entry does not provide an exhaustive list of adverse effects.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: have the preparation checked; no self-medication is proposed here.
Children & adolescents
No pediatric use is proposed here; check with a professional.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Available evidence
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
The available evidence.
Andrographis illustrates the difference between a plant extensively studied in the laboratory and a clinically validated preparation. The EMA dossier analyzes research on respiratory infections, among other topics. Much of it concerns combinations, and other studies concern specific leaf extracts. The committee was unable to adopt a monograph: information exists, but it does not form a sufficiently consistent body of evidence to recommend every product based on this plant.
Respiratory symptoms: a signal requiring confirmation
Some trials have explored the common cold or pharyngitis using specific preparations. Results from a combination do not allow the action of Andrographis to be isolated.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the referenceMultiple experimental activities
Cellular and animal research examines inflammation, immunity and other functions. This diversity does not constitute a list of proven therapeutic indications.
Laboratory or animal observation. A human benefit cannot be inferred from this finding alone.
Read the referenceLimitations to keep in mind.
Reading the full ingredient list and extraction process is essential before comparing a study with a product. A powder is not the extract used in a trial.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Two single-ingredient trials and their limitations
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
- Type of research
- EMA analysis of randomized trials on respiratory disorders.
- Preparation concerned
- In one trial, methanolic leaf extract; in another, dried leaves.
- Observed results
- The dossier identifies findings that can be examined but are insufficient for well-established use.
- Limitations to consider
- One lacked objective criteria, the other a placebo group; their preparations are not equivalent.
What can we take from this?
The final statement also notes insufficient documented duration of use of a single-ingredient preparation in the European Union. Conflicting reproductive data do not allow a conclusion of safety.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- EMA — Andrographidis paniculatae folium: official dossierAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — assessment report on Andrographis paniculata Nees (Leaves)Accessed on 09/10/2026
Image: J.M.Garg · CC BY-SA 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.