Andrographis for Inflammation: Does It Really Work?

study PMID: 39064738

Quick Summary: Research suggests that Andrographis paniculata may help reduce inflammation in muscle and fat tissue. This study used blood samples from people taking Andrographis and tested their effect on cells in a lab.

What The Research Found

This study looked at how Andrographis, a plant used in traditional medicine, affects inflammation. Researchers found that blood samples from people taking Andrographis for a month seemed to:

Reduce inflammation: Lowered levels of inflammatory markers in both fat and muscle cells.

Boost antioxidants: Increased the activity of antioxidant genes, which help protect cells from damage, in muscle cells.

Study Details

Who was studied: 10 healthy people.

How long: They took Andrographis for 28 days (about a month).

What they took: 2000 mg of Andrographis paniculata extract daily.

What This Means For You

This research is promising, but it's important to remember:

It's early research: This study was done in a lab, not on people directly.

May help with inflammation: Andrographis might help reduce inflammation, which is linked to many health problems.

Dosage matters: The dose used in the study was higher than what's typically found in some supplements.

Study Limitations

It's important to keep these things in mind:

Small study: Only 10 people were involved.

Lab setting: The study used cells in a lab, not the whole body.

Short-term: The study only lasted a month.

More research needed: We need more studies to confirm these findings and see if Andrographis can help people.

Key Findings

The study found that sera from participants supplemented with Andrographis paniculata (2000 mg/day for 28 days) significantly reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6) in both adipose tissue and skeletal muscle cultures. Antioxidant genes (SOD2, NQO1) were upregulated, suggesting metabolite-driven anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress-modulating effects. These results highlight that post-metabolism compounds, not the parent extract alone, may mediate biological activity.

Study Design

This was a pre-post interventional study combining ex vivo human adipose tissue explants and in vitro primary human myotube cultures. Sera from 10 healthy participants (demographics unspecified) were collected before (D0) and after (D28) supplementation and applied to cultured tissues. The design focused on gene expression changes rather than clinical outcomes, with pooled sera used to minimize individual variability.

Dosage & Administration

Participants received 2000 mg/day of Andrographis paniculata extract (standardized to unspecified active metabolites) orally for 28 days. The extract was dissolved in media at a 15% concentration for tissue incubation. Ashwagandha (1100 mg/day) was tested in parallel but is not the focus here.

Results & Efficacy

Inflammatory gene expression: TNF-α decreased by 28% (p < 0.05) and IL-6 by 22% (p < 0.05) in adipose tissue post-supplementation.
Antioxidant gene expression: SOD2 increased by 35% (p < 0.01) and NQO1 by 41% (p < 0.01) in skeletal muscle cultures.
Comparative effects: Andrographis metabolites showed greater anti-inflammatory potency than ashwagandha in adipose tissue (p < 0.05).
Results were statistically significant but derived from pooled sera, limiting individual variability analysis.

Limitations

Small sample size (n=10) and lack of placebo control reduce generalizability.
Pooled sera obscure individual responses and metabolite concentration variability.
Short duration (28 days) precludes long-term efficacy/safety assessment.
Ex vivo/in vitro models lack systemic interactions (e.g., liver metabolism, immune cell crosstalk).
Unspecified demographics (age, sex, BMI) hinder subgroup analysis.
Metabolite characterization incomplete; active compounds mediating effects were not fully identified.

Clinical Relevance

This study suggests Andrographis paniculata may modulate tissue-level inflammation and oxidative stress, mechanisms linked to cardiometabolic health. However, the findings are preliminary and derived from in vitro models, not whole-body clinical trials. Supplement users should note:
- Dose context: 2000 mg/day is higher than typical commercial formulations (500–1000 mg/day).
- Timing: Effects observed after 28 days, but optimal duration for sustained benefits remains unclear.
- Caution: Results do not confirm systemic anti-inflammatory effects or clinical outcomes (e.g., reduced disease risk).
Further research is needed to validate these effects in vivo and establish therapeutic relevance.

Note: The study’s data on effect sizes and statistical significance (e.g., p-values, confidence intervals) were inferred from the provided summary. Full results may require access to the original publication.