NutriDex

The Supplement Research Compendium
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Andrographis

Andrographis paniculata

Bitter herb that may ease cold and respiratory symptoms.

Moderate evidence 🛡️Gut & Immune

✚ Updated · How we grade evidence

Evidence tier
Moderate
Research weight
Citations
8 verified / 8
Classification
Gut & Immune
❝
What the evidence says. Graded moderate: a 33-trial meta-analysis shows real but modest relief of cough and a larger benefit for sore throat, but most trials are small, short, of poor methodological quality, heterogeneous, and often industry-linked, so the effect size is uncertain. (Moderate evidence: Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent.)

What is Andrographis?

Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) is a gut and immune supplement used for shorten cold/respiratory symptoms. NutriDex grades the human evidence as Moderate. Andrographis is a bitter Asian herb whose main active is andrographolide. The strongest data are for acute respiratory infections: a 2017 meta-analysis of 33 RCTs (7,175 patients) found it modestly reduced cough severity (SMD -0.39) and more substantially reduced sore throat (SMD -1.13) versus placebo, with the authors cautioning about poor study quality and heterogeneity. Earlier reviews reached similar conclusions. A standardized extract (HMPL-004) helped induce response in mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (60% vs 40% on placebo at 1,800 mg/day), and small trials suggest benefit in rheumatoid arthritis and multiple-sclerosis fatigue. Overall the herb appears genuinely active for short-term symptom relief, but trials are mostly small, brief, and commercially sponsored, so durability and magnitude remain unsettled. It is not a substitute for antibiotics when those are indicated.

Purported Benefits

✓Shorten cold/respiratory symptoms
✓Ease sore throat and cough
✓Reduce inflammation
✓Support in ulcerative colitis (extract)

Evidence by outcome

The same supplement can be well-proven for one use and unproven for another — here is the human evidence graded outcome by outcome.

OutcomeEvidenceEffectStudies
Ease sore throatMeta-analysis of 33 RCTs found notable sore-throat reduction (SMD -1.13), but poor study quality. Moderate ↑ benefit · moderate 2
Reduce cough / shorten cold symptomsMeta-analysis and reviews show modest cough benefit (SMD -0.39); trials small and often sponsored. Moderate ↑ benefit · small 3
Induce response in ulcerative colitis (extract)Single RCT: 60% response on 1,800 mg extract vs 40% placebo; needs replication. Preliminary ↑ benefit · moderate 1
Reduce inflammation (RA joint counts)One small 60-patient RA RCT reduced joint counts and rheumatoid factor; preliminary. Preliminary ↑ benefit · small 1

Dosing & Compounds

Typical Dose
Standardized extract supplying ~60 mg andrographolides/day (e.g. KalmCold 200 mg or 4-6 g/day dried herb), taken at symptom onset for 3-7 days.
Active Compounds
AndrographolideNeoandrographolideDeoxyandrographolide

Safety & Cautions

Generally well tolerated short-term; the commonest effects are mild GI upset, headache, fatigue and occasional allergic rash, with rare reports of urticaria/anaphylaxis. Avoid in pregnancy (animal data and traditional abortifacient use suggest reproductive risk) and use caution while breastfeeding. Because it can lower blood glucose and blood pressure and has antiplatelet activity, it may add to the effect of antidiabetic, antihypertensive and anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs; it may also stimulate immune activity, so caution is advised with immunosuppressants and in autoimmune disease. Stop before surgery and seek care for jaundice or signs of allergic reaction. Educational only — always check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining Andrographis with any medicine.

Key Studies

Meta-analysis Hu 2017 ✓ PubMed
Meta-analysis of 33 RCTs (7,175 pts): reduced cough (SMD -0.39) and sore throat (SMD -1.13) vs placebo; serious AEs rare.
Systematic review Coon & Ernst 2004 ✓ PubMed
7 double-blind trials (n=896): Andrographis superior to placebo for symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory infection.
RCT Bertoglio 2016 ✓ PubMed
12-month pilot RCT (n=22, relapsing-remitting MS on interferon): ~44% reduction in Fatigue Severity Score vs placebo.
RCT Saxena 2010 ✓ PubMed
RCT (n=223, KalmCold 200 mg/day): overall symptom efficacy ~2.1x (52.7%) higher than placebo in uncomplicated URTI.
RCT Sandborn 2013 ✓ PubMed
RCT (n=224, mild-moderate ulcerative colitis): 60% clinical response on 1,800 mg/day extract vs 40% placebo at 8 weeks.
RCT Cáceres 2012 ✓ PubMed
Pilot double-blind trial: prophylactic dried extract reduced incidence of common colds vs placebo over the prevention period.
Safety Worakunphanich 2021 ✓ Full text
Safety meta-analysis (10 RCTs + monitoring): adverse events mostly mild (GI, skin); serious AEs very rare (0.02/1000).
RCT Burgos 2009 ✓ PubMed
RCT (n=60, active rheumatoid arthritis): 14 weeks of extract reduced tender/swollen joint counts and rheumatoid factor vs placebo.
8 sources cited · 8 verified Search all studies on PubMed ↗

Common questions about Andrographis

What is Andrographis used for?

Andrographis is most often taken for Shorten cold/respiratory symptoms, Ease sore throat and cough, Reduce inflammation, Support in ulcerative colitis (extract). Bitter herb that may ease cold and respiratory symptoms.

Does Andrographis work — what does the evidence say?

Moderate evidence. Several controlled trials; effects real but modest or context-dependent. Andrographis is a bitter Asian herb whose main active is andrographolide. The strongest data are for acute respiratory infections: a 2017 meta-analysis of 33 RCTs (7,175 patients) found it modestly reduced cough severity (SMD -0.39) and more substantially reduced sore throat (SMD -1.13) versus placebo, with the authors cautioning about poor study quality and heterogeneity. Earlier reviews reached similar conclusions. A standardized extract (HMPL-004) helped induce response in mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (60% vs 40% on placebo at 1,800 mg/day), and small trials suggest benefit in rheumatoid arthritis and multiple-sclerosis fatigue. Overall the herb appears genuinely active for short-term symptom relief, but trials are mostly small, brief, and commercially sponsored, so durability and magnitude remain unsettled. It is not a substitute for antibiotics when those are indicated.

What is the typical dose of Andrographis?

Standardized extract supplying ~60 mg andrographolides/day (e.g. KalmCold 200 mg or 4-6 g/day dried herb), taken at symptom onset for 3-7 days.

Is Andrographis safe? Any cautions or side effects?

Generally well tolerated short-term; the commonest effects are mild GI upset, headache, fatigue and occasional allergic rash, with rare reports of urticaria/anaphylaxis. Avoid in pregnancy (animal data and traditional abortifacient use suggest reproductive risk) and use caution while breastfeeding. Because it can lower blood glucose and blood pressure and has antiplatelet activity, it may add to the effect of antidiabetic, antihypertensive and anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs; it may also stimulate immune activity, so caution is advised with immunosuppressants and in autoimmune disease. Stop before surgery and seek care for jaundice or signs of allergic reaction.

How many studies support Andrographis?

NutriDex cites 8 sources for Andrographis, graded "Moderate".

Cite this page
APA

Peh, D. (2026). Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects & Evidence. NutriDex — The Supplement Research Compendium. Retrieved 26 Jun 2026, from https://nutridex.info/s/andrographis

BibTeX
@misc{nutridex_andrographis,
  author       = {Peh, Daryl},
  title        = {Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata): Benefits, Dosage, Side Effects \& Evidence},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {NutriDex --- The Supplement Research Compendium},
  url          = {https://nutridex.info/s/andrographis},
  note         = {Reviewed by Dr Daryl Peh, MBBS Singapore, MMed FM. Accessed 2026-06-26}
}

For medical claims, citing the underlying primary studies linked above is preferred. NutriDex is an educational reference, not medical advice.

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