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Kalmegh

Andrographis paniculata

Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) is a plant drug, also called Kalameghah, Bhunimba and Kalamegha.

Key facts
Botanical nameAndrographis paniculata
FamilyAcanthaceae · other entries in this family
OrderLamiales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3173178 · Wikidata Q1551608 · NCBI Taxonomy 175694
Names in other languages
Sanskritकालमेघः (kālameghaḥ), भूनिम्ब (bhūnimba)
Hindiकालमेघ (kālamegha), हरा चिरायता (harā cirāyatā), कल्पनाथ (kalpanātha)
Tamilநிலவேம்பு

Sources: Names of Plants in India:: Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees (Dave's Botanary compilation, indiantreepix/efloraofindia), Hindi list reads "हरा चिरायता hara chirayata, कालमेघ kalmegh, कल्पनाथ kalpanath, किरयित् kirayit, महातीता mahatita".; Names of Plants in India:: Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, Sanskrit list "भूनिम्ब bhunimba, कालमेघ kalamegha, महातिक्ता mahatikta, यवतिक्ता yavatikta"; corroborated by efloraofindia's Andrographis paniculata page; Names of Plants in India:: Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, Sanskrit list reads "भूनिम्ब bhunimba, कालमेघ kalamegha, महातिक्ता mahatikta, यवतिक्ता yavatikta"; corroborated by efloraofindia's Andrographis paniculata page giving the Sanskrit synonyms bhunimba, kalamegha, mahatikta, yavatikta.; Names of Plants in India:: Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, Tamil list reads "நிலவேம்பு nilavempu".; Names of Plants in India:: Andrographis paniculata, Hindi list "हरा चिरायता hara chirayata, कालमेघ kalmegh, कल्पनाथ kalpanath, किरयित् kirayit, महातीता mahatita"; Names of Plants in India:: Andrographis paniculata, Hindi list, "कल्पनाथ kalpanath". How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 1991 to 2025, 11 with a DOI.

  • 1Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
  • 2Randomised controlled trials
  • 3Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 6Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishKalmegh

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Tablet, Capsule, Kashayam (decoction), Swarasa (fresh juice), Standardized extract, Syrup

Standard Dosage: 1-3g powder twice daily; 400-600mg standardized extract twice daily; 10-20ml fresh juice; 30-60ml decoction

Optimal Timing: Before meals with warm water

Storage: Cool, dry place below 25°C, protected from light and moisture. Andrographolide is relatively stable in solid form but degrades in solution. Amber containers for liquid preparations.

Marker Compounds: Andrographolide, Neoandrographolide, 14-Deoxyandrographolide, 14-Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide, Andrograpanin, Isoandrographolide

Synergistic Combinations

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses1

  1. Worakunphanich W, Thavorncharoensap M, Youngkong S and others. 2021. Safety of Andrographis paniculata: A systematic review and meta-analysisPharmacoepidemiology and drug safety. PMID 33372366 · doi:10.1002/pds.5190

Randomised controlled trials2

  1. Okonogi R, Thampanya V, Okonogi S. 2023. Efficacy of Andrographis paniculata spray in acute pharyngitis: A randomized controlled trialDrug discoveries & therapeutics. PMID 37821383 · doi:10.5582/ddt.2023.01053
  2. Thamlikitkul V, Dechatiwongse T, Theerapong S and others. 1991. Efficacy of Andrographis paniculata, Nees for pharyngotonsillitis in adultsJournal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet. PMID 1797953

Other clinical studies and reviews3

  1. Deshmukh R, Jain AK, Singh R and others. 2024. Andrographis paniculata and Andrographolide - A Snapshot on Recent Advances in Nano Drug Delivery Systems against CancerCurrent drug delivery. PMID 36740794 · doi:10.2174/1567201820666230203115752
  2. Raman S, Murugaiyah V, Parumasivam T. 2022. Andrographis paniculata Dosage Forms and Advances in Nanoparticulate Delivery Systems: An OverviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 36234698 · doi:10.3390/molecules27196164
  3. Malik Z, Parveen R, Parveen B and others. 2021. Anticancer potential of andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees and its mechanisms of actionJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 33610710 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.113936

Laboratory and animal studies6

  1. Lotti R, Cattuzzato L, Huang X and others. 2025. Andrographis paniculata Extract Supports Skin Homeostasis by Enhancing Epidermal Stem Cell Function and Reinforcing Their Extracellular NicheCells. PMID 40801608 · doi:10.3390/cells14151176
  2. Amin R, Apriliandy Shariff M, Purwanita P and others. 2024. Andrographis Paniculata (Burm. F.) Flavonoid Compound and Prevention of Diabetic RetinopathyJournal of ophthalmic & vision research. PMID 38638635 · doi:10.18502/jovr.v19i1.15435
  3. Tian J, Li C, Meng J and others. 2022. Pharmacological effects and safety of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) NeesJournal of food science. PMID 35166368 · doi:10.1111/1750-3841.16079
  4. Hanh TTH, My NTT, Cham PT and others. 2020. Diterpenoids and Flavonoids from Andrographis paniculataChemical & pharmaceutical bulletin. PMID 31902905 · doi:10.1248/cpb.c19-00662
  5. Dai Y, Chen SR, Chai L and others. 2019. Overview of pharmacological activities of Andrographis paniculata and its major compound andrographolideCritical reviews in food science and nutrition. PMID 30040451 · doi:10.1080/10408398.2018.1501657
  6. Richard EJ, Murugan S, Bethapudi B and others. 2017. Is Andrographis paniculata extract and andrographolide anaphylactic?Toxicology reports. PMID 28959670 · doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.07.004

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

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