Andrographis paniculata and prevention of upper respiratory infection in children:
Andrographis paniculata is effective for symptoms of the common cold in children. Researchers conducted a three-group study in 130 children age 4 to 11 years old comparing echinacea purpurea (L.), Andrographis paniculata (kan jang), and standard treatment. A. paniculata is a herb believed to reduce symptoms of common colds. Children were assigned to either standard treatment (n=39), standard treatment plus A. paniculata (n=53), or standard treatment plus Echinacea (Immunal was used) (n=41) treatment. The A. paniculata was administered as two tablets three times daily for 10 days (30 mg of andrographolide and deoxyandrographolide per day). An equivalent would be Andrographis capsule, 50 mg standardized to 10% andrographolides with 2 capsules taken 3 times per day or a 100 mg capsule standardized to 10% andrographolides taken 3 times daily. The echinacea group received 10 drops three times daily for 10 days. Standard treatment for the control group (n=39) consisted of warm drinks, throat gargles with matricaria (chamomile) infusion, antiseptic nose drops of silver nitrate colloid p.r.n., and acetaminophen (pain-killer) 500 mg three times daily if fever or severe headache was present. An improvement in upper respiratory tract infection symptoms by days 2−3 was reported in all groups but authors reported a faster improvement in symptoms in the A. paniculata group and a decrease in nasal secretions in the AP and echinacea groups. AP treatment was well tolerated with not reported side-effects. (7)