Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, highly used bitter medicinal herb, often cultivated near houses in order to control snakes, used to control all type of fevers, liver infections and diabetes. Native populations of A. paniculata are spread throughout south India and Sri Lanka which perhaps represent the center of origin and diversity of the species. The herb is an introduced species in northern parts of India, Java, Malaysia, Indonesia, the West Indies, and elsewhere in the Americas. One of such plant species is Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) used in ancient oriental and ayurvedic medicine. The genus Andrographis which belongs to the Acanthaceae family comprises of about 40 species. Andrographis paniculata, or Andrographis, is a medicinal herb long used in traditional Asian medicine, known as the “King of Bitters.” Its bitter taste and extensive use in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine highlight its significance.
