<p>Andrographis compounds have shown antiviral properties which appear to inhibit glycoproteins in the virus. This impedes the ability of viruses to invade cells and replicate. It also has a major effect activating the general defense functions of the immune system by stimulating the production of antibodies as well as non-specific immune responses such as increased macrophage phagocytosis, rather than by any direct antimicrobial activity. Andrographis has flavonoids, which always have an anti-inflammatory effect. In vitro studies have shown that the flavonoid activities suppressed the genetic expression of neutrophils. Similarly, studies have indicated that a variety of inflammatory proteins, including COX-2, are reduced by the presence of Andrographoloid.<br />
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The aerial parts and their constituent andrographolides have antihepato-toxic activity in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies have shown that intraperitoneal administration of a methanol extract of the aerial parts to mice reduced hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride CCl4, and reversed CCl4 induced histopathological changes in the liver. Intraperitoneal administration of andrographolide to mice inhibited the CCl4 induced increase in the activity of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and hepatic triglycerides. Andrographolide, the major antihepatotoxic component of the plant, exerted a pronounced protective effect in rats against hepato-toxicity induced by CCl4, Dgalactosamine, paracetamol and ethanol.<br />
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Moreover, andrographolide and related diterpenes are choleretic, antidiarrheal, immunostimulant, antimalarial, antipyretic and active in urinary tract infections.</p>