Andrographis (AP-Bio®) Clinical Evidence

Phytomedicine

Saxena RC, et al. A randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical evaluation of extract of Andrographis paniculata (KalmCold) in patients with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection. 2010 Mar;17(3-4):178-85.

Topic:
Can a proprietary extract of andrographis (previously KalmCold, now AP-Bio®) help relieve symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections?

Background:
Andrographis has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to stimulate the immune system and to reduce inflammation.

Study Type:
Human clinical intervention trial

Study Design:
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled. Subjects took either AP-Bio® andrographis extract or placebo and rated the following symptoms: cough, expectoration, nasal discharge, headache, fever, sore throat, earache, malaise/fatigue, and sleep disturbance.

Dosage:
200 mg/day for 5 days

Subjects:
223 subjects

Results:
In both the treatment and placebo groups, symptoms declined from days 1 to 3 of treatment. However, from days 3 to 5, symptoms of subjects in the placebo group stayed the same or worsened, while symptoms of those in the treatment group improved. Overall, AP-Bio® was found to be significantly more effective (52.7%) as placebo at reducing symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections.

Conclusions:
“The findings of this study revealed that KalmCold [AP-Bio®] was effective in reducing symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection.”

Mechanism of Action

Andrographis paniculata (AP-Bio®) stimulates the production of protective antibodies and prompts delayed-type hypersensitivity response (a kind of immune response in which T cells and T helper cells recognize an antigen and destroy it on contact). It also spurs the body’s innate (or non-specific) immune response, as measured by increases in proliferation of lymphocytes (a kind of white blood cell) and phagocytosis (a process in which immune cells engulf infectious agents).