Andrographolide Andrographolide (AG) is not just any herb. In fact, it’s not an herb at all. It’s a chemical compound that comes from an herb called Andrographis paniculata found in India, China, and Australia. Andrographolide is used extensively in Chinese and Indian medicine. While its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antivirus, antitumor, and cardiovascular protecting properties have excited many, its low bioavailability has been a problem. That problem has prompted much work to create more potent derivatives. AG has been well studied, leaving the medical literature studded with reviews. Over the past couple of decades, hundreds of derivatives have been developed and bioavailability has been improved. A 2020 review of the many efforts made to improve the usefulness of this unique compound demonstrated how active the andrographolide field is. There’s clearly still work to be done, though. While lauding the “ancient mighty herb” – and its perh...