Andrographis paniculata is a herbaceous plant in the family Acanthaceae, native to India and Sri Lanka. It is widely cultivated in Southern and Southeastern Asia, where it is used to treat infections and some diseases, often being used before antibiotics were created. Mostly the leaves and roots were used for medicinal purposes. Andrographis paniculata is an erect annual herb extremely bitter in taste in all parts of the plant body. The plant is known in north-eastern India as Maha-tita, literally "king of bitters", and known by various vernacular names (see the table below).
Systematic studies on chemistry of A. paniculata have been carried out. 14-Deoxy-11-dehydroandrographolide, Plant; 14-Deoxy-11-oxoandrographolide, Plant; 5-Hydroxy-7,8,2',3'-Tetramethoxyflavone, Plant; 5-Hydroxy-7,8,2'-Trimethoxyflavone, Tissue Culture; Andrographine, Root; Andrographolide, Plant; Neoandrographolide, Plant; Panicoline, Root; Paniculide-A, Plant; Paniculide-B, Plant; Paniculide-C, Plant.