Sambiloto

Sambiloto refers to Andrographis paniculata, a tropical herb in the family Acanthaceae, often called king of bitters. It is native to South and Southeast Asia and is widely cultivated in tropical regions for medicinal use. The plant is an annual or short-lived perennial with slender stems, opposite lanceolate leaves, and small white flowers with purple-tinged veins.

The dried plant material, extracts, and preparations derived from the leaves and stems are used in traditional medicine systems across Asia. Preparations include dried herb, tinctures, and standardized extracts used in capsules or tablets. Sambiloto is commonly employed as a bitter tonic to support appetite and digestion and is traditionally prescribed for fever, infections, diarrhea, dysentery, and liver or inflammatory conditions.

The principal active constituents are bitter diterpenoid lactones, especially andrographolide, along with neoandrographolide, deoxyandrographolide, and related compounds. These constituents are associated with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects in laboratory studies. Some preclinical work also suggests hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities. Clinical evidence is limited and mixed, with only a few small trials reporting modest benefits for respiratory infections; robust, high-quality data are lacking.

Safety and precautions: sambiloto is generally used short term and at traditional doses, but adverse effects can include gastrointestinal upset, nausea, loss of appetite, and a bitter taste. Rare allergic reactions or hepatotoxicity have been reported. It should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation, and may interact with anticoagulants, antidiabetic drugs, or medications metabolized by liver enzymes. Quality and standardization vary among products, which can affect safety and efficacy.