Kalmegh

TAXONOMICAL CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom Plantae, Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta, Vascular plants

Super division Spermatophyta, Seed plants

Division Angiosperma

Class : Dicotyledonae

Sub class Gamopetalae

Series Bicarpellatae

Order Personales

Tribe Justicieae

Family Acanthaceae

Genus and species Andrographis paniculata

Genus Andrographis has 40 species. 20 species occur in India .Other prominent species are A. echioides, A. serpyllifolia, A. wightiana and A. alata.

SYNOMYMS Arab: Quasabhuva

Bengali: Kalmegh English: King of Bitters

Gujarathi: Kariyatu Hindi: Kirayat

Kannada: Nelaberu Malayalam: Kiriyattu

Marathi: Oli-kiryata Oriya:Bhuinimba

Persian: Naine-havandi Sanskrit: Bhunimba

Tamil: Nilavembu Telugu: Nilavembu

INTRODUCTION• One among 23 Red listed plants ( Hoartus malabaricus ).• Cures all types of fever, live disorders and jaundice.• Grows in moist, shady waste lands and dry forests.

• Origin- France.

• Distribution-India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, China, Thailand, East and West Indies and Mauritius.

• India – In plains of UP, WB, Assam, Kerala and parts S.India.

• Natural sources diminished due to unscrupulous exploitation.

SOIL AND CLIMATE• Prefers sunny climate, deep well drained soils.• Increasing light intensity – Chlorophyll content/leaf area

decreased, total dry matter production is less as compared to plants grown under 15% light.

PROPAGATION• Seed. 250-300 g. Soak in water for 6 hr. • Collected from matured capsules, mixed with sand. • Nursery beds – June. Organic manures @ 1Kg/bed.• Germination – 15 days ( 75-85% ).

• Seed treatments – Highest shoot length in hot water treatment, • Longest root length in 0.5% Hydrochloric acid.• Continued…..

• Hot water treatment at 50o C for 5 min – Highest dry matter content ( 18.70 mg per 10 seedlings ) and vigor index(540) , no abnormal seedlings.

• IBA – Highest rooting percentage (47.6) and shoot length of 22.85• Seeds stored in liquid nitrogen for 1 week after desiccation to 4-7% exhibited 80-95% germination.

LAND PREPARATION AND PLANTING• May – June best season for planting.• Field is prepared. Dried cow dung 20t/ha.• Beds of 3m X 1.8 m of 15-25cm height (distance 3m). • Spacing – 60cm X 30cm. • Yield is influenced by date of planting (early planting more yield) but no the andrographolide content.

MANURES AND FERTILIZERS• Responds well to nitrogen.• Plant height, No. of primary and secondary branches and biomass

production increased with increasing rates of Nitrogen.• FYM 10 t/ha and Castor cake 2 t/ha - During land preparation.• 40 Kg N/ha as urea – Maximum content of andrographolide in roots

and above ground parts.

AFTERCARE• 2-3 irrigation during dry period. • 2 weeding – First, 1 month after planting. Second, 2 month after

planting.

INTERCROPPING• Bixa orellana, Embilca officinalis, Buchanania lanzan and Gmelina

arborea

CROP PROTECTION• No serious pests or diseases.

HARVEST AND POSTHARVEST HANDLING• Kerala – Flowers during Aug-Nov, whole plant matures during

Feb-Mar.• Shallow black soil – Harvesting in Nov, tall plants with highest

number of primary branches with high herbage yields and andrographolide content.

• 120 days after sowing – Andrographolide content, due to early harvesting.

• Plants tied into small bundles and dried in shade for 4-5 days.• Avg. yield 1.25 tones of dried plants/ha.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION • Andrographolide - A colorless neutral substance, diterpene

lactone insoluble in water. • Dissolves slowly in alkali.• Whole plant – Andrographolide, 4-deoxy11-oxo-andrographolide,• 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydro-andrographolide and non bitter

constituent neo-andrographolide.• Leaves – Homoandrographolide.• Andrographolide content – Leaves 2.5%, stem 2%.

USES• Used in prophylactic and therapeutic hepatoprotective herbal

preparation. • Astringent, anodyne , alexipharmic properties.• Used against intermittent fever, dysentery, diabetes,

influenza, bronchitis, swellings, piles and gonorrhea, jaundice and liver ailments.

• Decoction of the plant – Blood purifier.• Infusion of leaves – General debility and dyspepsia.• Leaves and roots – Febrifuge, tonic, alterative and cholagogue

action, laxative, cures cough, oedema, thirst, skin diseases, ulcers and worms.

• Plant extract – Ant typhoid properties against Salmonella typhii.

• Useful against dyspepsia, hemorrhoids, leprosy, flatulence and colic acidity.

• Effective against chronic malaria, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibiotic.

• Decoction of plant used against anemia. • Antidote to cobra venom – Leaves of Kalmegh and pulp

of rice.• Major constituent of ‘ Switradilepa’ – Treating vitilago.

KALMEGH PRODUCTS