Andrographis paniculata – Kalomegh

General Information Common Name  Kalomegh, Green Chireta Scientific Name  Andrographis paniculata Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  30 - 110 cm (12 - 43 in) Spread  up to 40 cm (15 in) Growth Rate  Moderate Bloom Time  Spring Color  Green Flower Color  White Type  Herbs Native   Asia

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class  Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons Subclass  Asteridae Order  Scrophulariales Family  Acanthaceae - Acanthus Family Genus  Andrographis - False Water Willow Species  A. paniculate

Andrographis paniculata commonly known as Kalomegh mean Dark Cloud also known as Moha-tikta means King of Bitter is native to Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

Andrographis paniculata – Kalomegh 

It is erect or sub erect annual herbaceous plant grows 30 – 110 cm (12 – 43 in) in height with articulated shoots. It grows in moist and shady places. The stems quadrangular, glabrous with longitudinal furrows and wings along the angles. Petioles up to 1 cm long and the lance-shaped leaves hairless blades measuring up to 12 cm (5 in) long and 1.5 – 2.5 cm (0.5 – 1 in) wide, entire, acuminate, 4 – 6 lateral vined, color dark green.

The small flowers in lax panicles, up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long. Pedicels up 5 mm long, glandular pubescent. Bracts 2 mm long, lanceolate. Sepals up to 4 mm long, linear-lanceolate, segments equal, glandular-pubescent on the outside. Corolla up to 16 mm (6.5 in) long, white, lower lip deeply 3 lobed with deep purplish marking inside at the base, upper lip notched or 2 toothed. Stamens 2, filaments hairy, exerted, anther cells oblong, base bearded. Ovary seated on a small disc, style slender, stigma minutely bifid. The fruit is a capsule up to 2 cm (0.80 in) long and 4 mm wide, linear-oblong, acute at base, pointed at apex. The seeds are 2 mm long, sub quadrate, yellowish-brown in color.

It is mainly distributed South Asian country like as India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. It can be found in a variety of habitats, such as plains, hillsides, coastlines, and also cultivated or wildly grows areas such as roadsides, farms, and wastelands. The herb is some species in northern parts of India, Java, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, the West Indies, and elsewhere in the Americas.

Mostly the leaves and roots were used for medicinal purposes also the whole plant is used in some cases. Very widely used as a medicine in liver complaints and as a febrifuge. Commonly substituted for Chirata (Swertia chirata Ham.) by the crude drug dealers. It has been used in Siddha and Ayurvedic medicine, and promoted as a dietary supplement for cancer prevention and cure.

The seeds should be conserved in seed banks, and large-scale cultivation should be taken up to ease pressure on the wild population. The seeds are sown during May and June. The seedlings are transplanted at a distance of 60 cm and cultivation near homesteads.

Leaves of Kalomegh 

Andrographis paniculata Leaves

Flower of Kalomegh 

Andrographis paniculata Leaves

Kalomegh Leaves

Flower of Andrographis paniculata 

Andrographis paniculata – Kalomegh Flower

Fruit of Kalomegh 

Seeds Capsule of Kalomegh 

Andrographis paniculata Seeds Capsuls 

Andrographis paniculata Fruits

Bark of Kalomegh 

Andrographis paniculata Barks 

Kalomegh as Commercial Cultivation

Andrographis paniculata – Kalomegh 

Andrographis paniculata – Kalomegh 

Kalomegh - Chirata

Chirata

Andrographis paniculata – Kalomegh 

Video of Kalomegh: