500 mg · vegan · gluten-free · 60 caps
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Andrographis paniculata, known as Kalmegh or King of Bitters, is a tropical Asian herb whose diterpene lactone andrographolide has potent anti-inflammatory, antiviral and hepatoprotective properties. It is used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for liver disorders and infectious fever.
Andrographolide activates the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway, inhibits NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduces hepatic steatosis and fibrogenesis in NASH models. It also suppresses SREBP-1c to reduce hepatic lipogenesis and improves insulin sensitivity.
Adults with NAFLD/NASH, alcoholic liver injury, or those seeking antiviral and anti-inflammatory liver support. Not a replacement for antiviral therapy in hepatitis.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women; people with gallbladder disease or bile duct obstruction; those on anticoagulants, immunosuppressants or hypoglycaemic agents without supervision. Side effects: Mild GI upset, headache, or fatigue; very bitter taste. Rare allergic reactions including skin rash.
A plain-English read of the literature behind this supplement. Not a clinical recommendation.
Key citations: PMC9476713 (network pharmacology and NASH amelioration in MCD-diet mice), PMC5471224 (inflammation and fibrogenesis attenuation in experimental NASH), PMC3098397 (silybin review — referenced for comparative hepatoprotection context)
SacredBod's longer take on Andrographis Liver — context the structured blocks above don't capture.
Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees — known as Kalmegh (Bengali/Hindi), King of Bitters, or Green Chirayta — is an annual herb native to India and Sri Lanka. It is one of the most bitter herbs in the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia and has been used for centuries for liver disorders (yakrit roga), malaria, dysentery and respiratory infections. The primary active constituent is andrographolide, a diterpene lactone with documented anti-inflammatory, antiviral and hepatoprotective activity. In India, it is widely cultivated and sold by brands like Biovencer, mi nature, Biotic and homeopathic manufacturer SBL.
Andrographolide protects the liver through multiple molecular pathways: (1) activation of the Nrf2 antioxidant defence pathway, increasing glutathione and antioxidant enzymes, (2) inhibition of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reducing hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis, (3) suppression of SREBP-1c to decrease hepatic lipogenesis and triglyceride accumulation, and (4) direct antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. In a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet NASH mouse model, andrographolide (40–80 mg/kg) significantly reduced ALT, AST, hepatic steatosis and lymphocyte infiltration. Another study in choline-deficient amino-acid-defined (CDAA) diet mice showed andrographolide reduced hepatic triglyceride content, macrophage infiltration, and expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes.
Adults with NAFLD/NASH, alcoholic liver injury, or those seeking broad-spectrum antiviral and anti-inflammatory liver support. It is not a substitute for antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B or C. Those with pitta aggravation and inflammatory liver conditions may find it particularly balancing due to its intensely bitter, cooling nature.
Generally safe at moderate doses. The extreme bitterness may cause nausea or stomach upset — take with food. Andrographolide inhibits platelet aggregation and may lower blood glucose — use cautiously with anticoagulants and antidiabetic medication. Contraindicated in pregnancy and gallbladder disease.
Kalmegh is indigenous to India and is one of the most widely used bitter tonics in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine. On Amazon.in, it is available as capsules, tablets and powder from numerous domestic brands priced ₹250–₹700. It is not a scheduled drug. In Ayurveda, its tikta (bitter) rasa and sheeta (cooling) virya make it ideal for pitta liver heat, fever and infections, though its extreme dryness (ruksha) may aggravate vata in excess. It appears in classical formulations like Mahasudarshan churna and Kalmeghasava.
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