Variety and Genuses

Kalmegha is native to India and the growth is distributed in various states; Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, West Bengal, Utter Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is widely available in Arabia. The Genus Andrographis consists of 28 species of small annual shrubs essentially distributed in tropical Asia. Only a few species are medicinal of which Andrographis Paniculata is the most popular. Few high yield varieties have been released for this plant:

• AK-1 (Anand Kalmegh-1) released by Anand University, Gujarat

Plant Description

This is an annual plant with the morphological characteristics being;

• Leaf
  The leaves are opposite sessile or subsessile, linear – lanceolateor,3-8 cm long, acute, glabrous or minutely puberulous (covered with fine hairs) beneath and base cuneate, the margin slightly undulated
• Flower
  The plant itself has characteristic four-sided stalks and long, pointed leaves with pink to purplish flowers. Pedicel is 2.5–10 mm in size, slender and glandular pubescent. The Bracts are acicular and 2.5 mm long.
• Fruit
  The fruit is a capsule, oblong, 18-20X4.5–5.0 mm, young ones sparsely glandular and hairy; when mature it is glabrous. Seeds are subquadrate, yellow to brownish in color and rugose. The flowering and fruiting occurs in October – December (North India).
• Height at Maturity
  The herb grows annually, is erect and 30-90 cm tall with upper part of stem being quadrangular and the lower part, rounded.
• Life Span
  Kalmegha is generally cultivated in the cooler months during or post monsoon (June to September) and harvested in 90-120 days.

Habitat

It is widely distributed throughout tropical Asian countries mainly India, China and South-East Asia often in isolated patches. The native population of the plant is spread throughout South India and Sri Lanka which perhaps represent the center of origin and diversity of the species. The plant grows well in tropical and subtropical regions all over India with 4-6 light irrigations which are required until harvesting of the crop.

• Climate
  June is considered the best time for sowing. The crop is grown during the cooler climate and it remains 120 days in the field. The cooler climate helps plants in synthesizing more bitter ingredients. A harsh climatic condition is not suitable for the growth of the crop.
• Soil
  It is a hardy species when subjected to medium fertile sandy loam to clay-loam soils along with irrigation, it flourishes at it best. The plant can withstand partial shade of trees for a few hours but it is cultivated in open fields.

Usefulness

The plant produces yellowish-brown seeds, and all parts have an extremely bitter taste. The portion of the plant appearing above ground are harvested in the fall. The dry and penetrating qualities helps maintain a normal body temperature (reduces pitta in head and chest). The entire plant has various usages and has been used in Ayurveda (traditional medicine) for the longest time.

• The Kalmegh enhances liver function and stimulates the production of Bile
• Decoction of the plant is used in anemia disease and against high blood pressure
• Kalmegh powder is used to protect and control liver and skin diseases
• It is used to cure leprosy
• The fresh juice of the leaf is used to treat Cholera

One of the active compounds from Kalmegh plant known as Neoandrographolide has shown anti-HIV activity (various modern researches have concluded). Few phytoconstituents of this plant has shown cytotoxic and as well as anti-microbial properties. The aerial part of the plant contains a large number of chemical constituents, mainly lactones, diterpenoids, diterpene glycosides, flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides. The herb contains diterpenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols as the major bioactive components.

• Andrographolide is the major one in terms of bioactive properties and abundance;
• Among the less abundant compounds from A. paniculata, andrograpanin is both anti-inflammatory and anti-infective;
• Acetylandrographolide are tumor suppressive;
• Arabinogalactan proteins are anti-hepatotoxic;

Kalmegh is mainly used to treat infection, inflammation and fever, and specifically the common cold, influenza type and other upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). In ancient Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, it has been used to treat a wide range of diseases including cardiovascular disorders and used as a general tonic.

The active nutritional ingredients polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, polysaccharides, lactones and pigments etc. are extracted from plants, for Nutraceuticals, Health and Dietary Supplements, Pharmaceuticals & Natural Remedies etc. to provide products that are Eco friendly, Natural and Organic conforming to International and Herbal Pharmacopeia standards. The products are customized to be compatible to the customer requirements to enhance the efficacy and the shelf life.

Kalmegh with its bitterness balances us with innumerable health benefits. The whole herb is bitter in taste and is source of several diterpenoids of which a bitter water-soluble lactone “andrographolide” is important. It has antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antihyperglycemic, and antioxidant properties. The plant also contains anti-cancerous properties.

We will dig deeper into its homeopathic usage:

The drug has proved its worth in the first stage of cold and cough; convalescence after prolonged fever; general debility, infantile liver and jaundice. The plant is febrifuge, tonic, alternative, anthelmintic. It is useful in dysentery and dyspepsia. Favorable research has been done on viral hepatitis, on liver, fights toxins, and anti-ulcer activity.

• It is a blood purifier used in treatment of leprosy, scabies, boils, skin eruptions, chronic and seasonal fevers.
• It appears to have antithrombotic actions, suggesting a possible benefit in cardiovascular disease.
• It is also used in treatment of various conditions like epidemic encephalitis B, suppurative otitis media, neonatal subcutaneous annular ulcer, vaginitis, cervical erosion, pelvic inflammation, herpes zoster, chicken pox, mumps, neurodermatitis, eczema, and burns.
• The Leaves and root are used in general weakness and in gaseous distension

In China, the herb derived from the leaves or aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata is known as Chuanxinlian, Yijianxi or Lanhelian.

Cultivation

The propagation material can be easily raised through seed and vegetative methods. But in commercial cultivation, propagation through seed is easy and economical. Argo- technique & Nursery Technique is a two-pronged approach to cultivation of Kalmegha.

• Sowing Season
  Kalmegha is generally cultivated in the cooler months during or post monsoon (June to September) and harvested in 90-120 days.
• Land Preparation
  As we know, Andrographis paniculata is one of the medicinal plants recommended for cultivation in India as there is great demand for the plant by the pharmaceutical industries mainly for export. Higher protein in the plant has been observed.
  
  The land should be prepared well by repeated ploughing to make soil pulverized. For healthy growth and optimal yield, nutrients are extremely important in correct proportions from time to time. Organic manures, apart from improving physical and biological properties of soil, help in improving the use of efficiency of chemical fertilizers such as farmyard and poultry manure are known to improve the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil and their application ensures sustainable soil health. An experiment has proved that an optimum level of Nitrogen and Cow dung mix yielded maximum growth to the height, number of leaf and branch per plant of Kalmegh.
  
  Another element is Biofertilizers. They are cost-effective, eco-friendly and renewable source of plant nutrients which play a vital role in maintaining long – term soil fertility and sustainability. This process of cultivation provides farmers and rural women with additional work yielding more income opportunities.
• Disease Management
  Since it’s a hardy plant, it is not attacked by pest and diseases can be maintained easily.
• Nursery
  In the Nursery technique, the seeds are soaked in water for 24 hours and sown in the nursery beds in early September. About 650-750 gm seeds are required for raising nursery for one hectare of land. The nursery is prepared with soil, sand and organic matter in 1:1:1 ratio and sown in early September at 5 cm spacing in rows and it takes 8-10 days for germination to commence.
• Irrigation
  4-6 light irrigation is required till harvesting the crop
• Weed Control Management
  Since it’s an herbaceous plant, the field should be free from weeds. Intermittent weeding (2-3 times) are essential during the crop season at 20 days and 60 days after transplantation.
• Harvesting Methods
  The crop matures after 120 days of sowing. It is harvested when most plants are in bloom. It is at this stage; the plants should be uprooted. However, a small lot of healthy plants should be left in the field for seed production.

• Drying
  When the fruits become mature, they are picked up and dried in the sun and seeds are collected. The seeds should be kept in open sun for complete drying.
• Grading & Packaging
  This properly dried material is then packed in laminated gunny bags, lest it absorbs moisture. The harvested dry material is then stored in dark, airy and moisture-free places.
• Storage
  It is stored in dry places away from pests. The seed is stored for 1 year from the time of harvest.

Commercial Benefits

It is available in Online and Medical stores. The climate as well as soil favors cultivation of some commercially important medicinal plants and Andrographis is one of the most viable and useful plants today used in modern drugs as well as traditional medicine. Various compositions of the plant have been discovered to control substance abuse. The combination of Biochemical fertilizers and organic manure have conditioned a significant growth of this medicinal plant.

WHO encourages, recommends and promotes the inclusion of herbal drugs in their national health care programs because such drugs are easily available at a reasonable price within the reach of common man and as such are time tested and thus considered to be much safer than the modern synthetic drugs. Andrographis paniculata is recommended for cultivation in India, as there is a great demand for the plant by the pharmaceutical industries mainly for export. The plant has huge market in US and the Paniculata extracts possess great value for export.