Andrographis L. (Acanthaceae) is a vital genus that produces the most
potential secondary metabolites, such as labdane diterpenoids called andrographolides.
Pharmaceutical requirements for andrographolides are sustained through habitat
collection and limited cultivation of Andrographis paniculata. However, in India, the
genus is represented by about 26 species distributed in the southern Peninsula, most of
which are endemic to the region. Commercial exploitation for andrographolide
extraction is met with A. paniculata alone. The low rate of seed production in this plant
and enormous variation in andrographolide content were found in the natural
population. Tissue culture techniques help us to produce commercially viable
andrographolides on a large scale. The present review analyzes the alternative sources
of andrographolides from diverse species of Andrographis. Also, the review describes
in vitro culture of callus and suspension cultures, the development of adventitious and
hairy root cultures, the addition of biotic and abiotic elicitors for enhancing
andrographolide production, and also the production of valuable compounds by
utilizing bioreactors, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and genetic engineering
for increasing biosynthesis of andrographolides.
Keywords: Andrographolide, Andrographis paniculata, In vitro production, Plant tissue culture, Secondary metabolite.