Andrographis for Liver Health

Research suggests that Andrographis paniculata and its active compound andrographolide have shown some promise in laboratory settings for antiviral activity, including against SARS-CoV-2, with one in vitro study reporting potent suppression of viral replication at concentrations well below levels toxic to liver, kidney, lung, and other cell lines. However, the clinical picture is mixed: a small randomized controlled trial found that only a reduction in inflammatory marker CRP reached statistical significance among COVID-19 patients, while the broader outcomes were inconclusive, and two retrospective cohort studies produced contradictory results — one reporting a striking reduction in pneumonia progression and another finding no meaningful protective effect. The available human studies are limited by small sample sizes, retrospective and non-randomized designs, and varying methodological quality, all of which make it difficult to draw firm conclusions about the herb's real-world effectiveness or safety profile. Studies indicate that more rigorously designed, adequately powered clinical trials are needed before the evidence can be considered sufficient to support or refute a meaningful role for Andrographis in liver or respiratory health outcomes.