Andrographolide and its Analogs

Andrographolide is a pharmacologically significant labdane diterpenoid primarily isolated from Andrographis paniculata, and later, from many of its allied species. A. paniculata is used in many Indian traditional and alternative medicinal systems for treating several human ailments. The phytochemical studies on species has yielded a number of diterpenoids and flavonoids, which have been screened for their pharmacological potential by various scientific groups. The results proved that andrographolides and their analogs have the potential to treat cancer and cardiovascular, hepatic, and various other diseases. In this chapter, the phytochemistry of Andrographis and the structure and properties of major andrographolides and their analogs have been reviewed.