Andrographis — the bitter herb that shortens a cold?

Aim of the study: The aim of this review was to systematically assess the literature on herbal medicine for cough as a symptom of upper respiratory tract infections and common cold.

Results: 34 RCTs (N = 7,083) on Pelargonium sidoides (11 RCTs), Echinacea (8 RCTs), Andrographis paniculata (6 RCTs), ivy/primrose/thyme (4 RCTs), essential oils (4 RCTs) and bakumondoto (1 RCT) were included. Controls were mainly placebo. Most studies had a low risk of bias. The meta-analysis revealed strong evidence for A. paniculata (SMD = -1.00, 95% CI = -1.85, -0.15; P<0.001) and ivy/primrose/thyme (RR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.23, 1.60; P<0.001) in treating cough; moderate evidence for P. sidiodes (RR = 4.60; 95% CI = 2.89,7.31; P<0.001), and limited evidence for Echinacea (SMD = -0.68; 95% CI = -1.32, -0.04; P = 0.04). This review found strong evidence for A. paniculata and ivy/primrose/thyme-based preparations and moderate evidence for P. sidoides being significantly superior to placebo in alleviating the frequency and severity of patients' cough symptoms. Additional research, including other herbal treatments, is needed in this area.

Aim of the study: Acute respiratory infections represent a significant cause of over-prescription of antibiotics and are one of the major reasons for absence from work. The leaves of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.

Results: paniculata were generally mild and infrequent. There were few spontaneous reports of adverse events. A. paniculata may be a safe and efficacious treatment for the relief of symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection; more research is warranted.

Aim of the study: Acute viral pharyngitis is a self-limited disease but the symptoms, a sore throat in particular, can affect one's quality of life. Medicine for symptom relief is the main treatment.

Results: paniculata spray group was 1.9 ± 0.7 days compared to 2.5 ± 1.2 days in the chamomile spray group (p = 0.049). No adverse events were noted in either group. A. paniculata spray is safe and highly efficacious in treating acute viral pharyngitis and can reduce symptoms more rapidly than a positive control spray.

Aim of the study: Andrographolide, a diterpenoid lactone isolated from Andrographis paniculata, exhibits broad-spectrum biological activities but suffers from poor water solubility and limited oral bioavailability due to its native structure. In recent years, glycosylation has emerged as a promising strategy to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of such compounds.

Results: In vivo studies using S. aureus (ATCC 29213) infection rat model further confirmed that compound 5a effectively reduced bacterial burden and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, potentially through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Additionally, blood biochemical indices and histopathological analysis revealed that these derivatives offered protection against organ damage, particularly in lung tissues. Overall, this study highlights glycosylation as an effective approach to optimize andrographolide-based molecules and provides both theoretical support and chemical entities for the development of novel antibacterial glycosides.

Aim of the study: Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of feeds containing sambiloto extracted in water (SWE) or ethanol (SEE) in improving the performance of broilers infected with Eimeria sp. Material and Methods: A total of 80 ROSS 308 strain day-old chicks were divided into 4 groups: groups FSWE and FSEE (chickens infected with Eimeria sp.

Results: Results: The performance study results indicated that the highest body weight was achieved by the FSWE, and an ideal FCR was obtained from the FSEE, respectively. The lowest oocyst count was obtained in FSWE (p < 0.05), and the highest survival rate was observed in FSEE. Conclusions: The study concluded that SWE and SEE have anticoccidial efficacy in broilers and offer benefits as feed additives in preventing Eimeria sp. infections.