✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
Updated: 2026-05-29 · v2.0 · Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhDCiteEditorial
📰Read the full Andrographis evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.
2
Conditional
Andrographis
Andrographis paniculata
Conditionally SafeModerateBotanicals
RDA
Typical 200–600 mg
Target
N/A
Upper limit
No UL
Products
55
Dosage by population group — reference
🔗 Best with: Echinacea, Elderberry, Vitamin C✅ USP Verified, ConsumerLab Approved, Clean Label Project Certified
⚠ Pregnancy — anti-fertility/abortifacient in animals [1]
⚠ Start within 36 hours of symptoms [2]
⚠ Antiplatelet — stop 2 weeks pre-surgery [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
ℹ️ No validated blood test. There is no established laboratory test to assess status or guide dosing for this ingredient. Clinical response and symptoms are the practical guide.
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Andrographis ('King of Bitters') has Cochrane-level evidence for URI symptoms (cough/sore throat). Start within 36 hours. Kan Jang is the most studied extract. Anti-fertility effects — AVOID in pregnancy. Antiplatelet — stop pre-surgery [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
AVOID — anti-fertility effects in animal studies [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Limited data [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose

How to take

🍽 Timing: Start at first symptoms. TID × 5–10 days [2].
💊 With food: With food [1].
🚫 Avoid: Pregnancy. Anticoagulants. Immunosuppressants [1].
2 Which form?
FormBioavailabilityVeganCost
['Standardized extract (Kan Jang)', 'preferred', 'Swedish brand. Most clinical evidence. 1,200 mg/day [2].']StandardCheck label
['Andrographolide-standardized extract', 'common', '10–30% andrographolide [1].']StandardCheck label
3 Common questions
Is andrographis better than echinacea for colds? ▼
Both have Cochrane reviews for URIs. Andrographis may have slightly stronger evidence for cough/throat pain specifically. Neither is dramatically effective. Start early [2].
Why is it called King of Bitters? ▼
Andrographolide is extraordinarily bitter — one of the most bitter natural compounds known. Capsules are essential [1].
4 Clinical evidence

Strong

Anti-inflammatory mechanism (NF-κB inhibition by andrographolide) — well-characterized [1]. HIGH

Moderate

URI symptoms: Cochrane (33 trials) — improved cough and sore throat vs placebo. Quality limitations [2]. Comparable to acetaminophen for fever/throat pain in some Thai trials [2]. MODERATE

Insufficient

Influenza (specifically) [1]. Cancer [1]. Autoimmune disease [1]. HIV [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events

Absolute contraindications

✕ Pregnancy — abortifacient and anti-fertility concerns

Relative

⚠ Autoimmune disease — immunostimulant
⚠ Anticoagulants/antiplatelets — bleeding risk
⚠ Antihypertensives/antidiabetics — additive effects
⚠ Fertility concerns (reduced fertility in animal studies)

🚩 Red flags

● Pregnancy [1]
● Allergic reaction [1]
6 Interactions

Drug interactions

Anticoagulants Moderate
Mechanism: Andrographolide has antiplatelet activity. [1]
Effect: Bleeding risk. [1]
Action: Monitor [1].

Supplement synergies

Echinacea · 300–500 mg echinacea
Different immune mechanisms for URI [1].
7 Regulatory
Scandinavia: Kan Jang is a registered herbal medicine for URI in Sweden [2].
United States: Dietary supplement [1].
India/China: Traditional Ayurvedic (Kalmegh) and TCM (Chuan Xin Lian) medicine [1].
8 US supplement products
55
on-market products containing Andrographis (NIH DSLD)

Brands carrying Andrographis (43)

Click a brand to see its Andrographis products.
Or browse all 55 products in one list →
9 Frequently paired with
Silicon 27 sharedZinc 17 sharedVitamin C 16 sharedMagnesium 13 shared
Andrographis vs EchinaceaAndrographis vs Elderberry
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Andrographis — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 31]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/andrographis/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Andrographis — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/andrographis/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: March 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Andrographis — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/andrographis/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG
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