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Andrographis paniculata - Kalmegh

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Kalmegh, Andrographis paniculata
Kalamegha, Nelabevu

Andrographis paniculata is an annual herbaceous plant in the family Acanthaceae, native to India and Sri Lanka.It is widely cultivated in Southern and Southeastern Asia, where it has been traditionally used to treat infections and some diseases.

Uses

Cancer, HIV, Cough, Cold, Sinusitis, Body pain, Liver problems, Leprosy, Cholera

Parts Used

Leaves, Whole herb.

Chemical Composition

Dihydroneobaicalein, andrographidine, andrographidine, andrographidine, dihydroxy, dimethoxyflavone, beta-D-glucopyranoside, three diterpenoids, andrograpanin, neoandrographolide ,andrographolide, two phenylpropanoids, trans-cinnamic acid and methoxycinnamaldehyde[1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Nelaberu, kaala megha
Hindi Kirayat, Kalpanath
Malayalam Nelavepu, Kiriyattu
Tamil Nilavembu
Telugu Nilavembu
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Kalmegha, Bhunimba
English kariyat


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapa, Pitta

Prabhava

Habit

Herb

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple Opposite 9 x 1.5 cm, elliptic, acuminate at apex, base acute, decussate, glabrous.

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Bisexual 2-4cm long White and purple 5-20 Panicle terminal and upper axillary, glandular-hairy; flowers many, distant. Calyx lobes 3 mm long, linear, hairy, connate at base, Corolla 14 mm long, pink or white with purple dots, tube ventricose, hairy, upper lip entire, midlobe of lower lip broader than laterals, acute, glandular-hairy. Ovary puberulous, style hairy.

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Capsule 20-30 x 3 mm oblong, acute, hairy; retinacula spoon shaped eeds 8, glabrous {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

It can be easily raised through seed and vegetative methods. But in commercial cultivation, propagation through seed is easy and economical. In India, it is cultivated as rainy season (Kharif) crop. Any soil having fair amount of organic matter is suitable for commercial cultivation of this crop. About 400 gms. seed are sufficient for one hectare[3]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Village groves, Roadsides, Waste places.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links