Andrographolide is a pharmacologically significant labdane diterpenoid
primarily isolated from Andrographis paniculata, and later, from many of its allied
species. A. paniculata is used in many Indian traditional and alternative medicinal
systems for treating several human ailments. The phytochemical studies on species has
yielded a number of diterpenoids and flavonoids, which have been screened for their
pharmacological potential by various scientific groups. The results proved that
andrographolides and their analogs have the potential to treat cancer and
cardiovascular, hepatic, and various other diseases. In this chapter, the phytochemistry
of Andrographis and the structure and properties of major andrographolides and their
analogs have been reviewed.
Keywords: Andrographolide, anticancer, toxicology, phytochemistry, pharmacology.