Recent Articles on Andrographis sp.

Evaluation of immunomodulatory activity of an extract of andrographolides from Andographis paniculata

Planta Med. 2009 Jun;75(8):785-91. Epub 2009 Mar 4.

Evaluation of immunomodulatory activity of an extract of
andrographolides from Andographis paniculata.

Naik SR, Hule A.

Prin. K. M. Kundnani College of Pharmacy, Rambhau Salgaonkar Marg,
Cuff, Parade, Colaba, Mumbai, India. srnaik5@rediffmail.com

The immunomodulatory activity of HN-02, an extract containing a
mixture of andrographolides (i.e., andrographolide [88 +/- 5 %] plus
14-deoxyandrographolide and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide
together [12 +/- 3 %]) in a pure powder form was evaluated at 1.0,
1.5, and 2.5 mg/kg on different in vivo and in vitro experimental
models. In a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) mouse model,
potentiation of the DTH reaction was observed after treatment with
cyclophosphamide (CYP) and HN-02 individually. However, CYP
potentiation of the DTH reaction was reversed by HN-02 pretreatment.
Furthermore, HN-02 treatment elevated the depressed hemagglutination
antibody (HA) titer and increased the number of plaque-forming cells
(PFCs) in the spleen cells of mice that had been treated with CYP and
challenged with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Further, it was also
found that HN-02 treatment stimulated phagocytosis in mice. A
significant increase in total WBC count and relative weight of spleen
and thymus was observed in mice during 30 days of treatment with
HN-02. The present experimental findings demonstrate that HN-02 has
the ability to enhance immune function, possibly through modulation of
immune responses altered during antigen interaction, and to reverse
the immunosuppression induced by CYP.

PMID: 19263340 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and toxic effects of andrographolide derivatives in experimental animals

Arch Pharm Res. 2009 Sep;32(9):1191-200. Epub 2009 Sep 26.

Analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and toxic effects of
andrographolide derivatives in experimental animals.

Suebsasana S, Pongnaratorn P, Sattayasai J, Arkaravichien T, Tiamkao
S, Aromdee C.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon
Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Andrographolide (1) and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (2)
are active constituents of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.), family
Acanthaceae. A. paniculata extracts are reported to have antiviral,
antipyretic, immunostimulant and anticancer activities. In this study,
1 and its 14-acetyl- (4) and 3,19-isopropylidenyl- (3) derivatives, as
well as 2 and its 3,19-dipalmitoyl-derivative (5), were
intraperitoneally tested for their analgesic, antipyretic,
anti-inflammatory and acute toxicity effects in animal models.
Analgesic effects were tested in mice using hot plate and writhing
tests to distinguish the central and peripheral effects, respectively.
The results showed that, at 4 mg/kg, all tested substances have
significant analgesic effects, and the highest potency was seen with
3, 4 and 5. Increasing the dose of 3 and 5 to 8 mg/kg did not increase
the analgesic effect. In the writhing test, 3 and 5, but not 1, showed
significant results. In a baker's yeast-induced fever model, 3 and 5
significantly reduced rats' rectal temperature (p < 0.05). In a
carrageenan-induced inflammation model, 1, 3 and 5 significantly
reduced rats' paw volume. Doses of 3 and 5 up to 100 mg/kg did not
show any serious toxic effects. From this study, 3 and 5 are the most
interesting derivatives, showing much greater potency than their
parent compounds. These could be further developed as analgesic,
antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agents, without any serious
toxicity.

PMID: 19784573 [PubMed - in process]