Chuanxinlian/Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees): Discoveries in Esophageal, Gastric and Colorectal Cancer Studies

Abstract

Andrographis paniculata (AP) is a medicinal plant in both Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. It is commonly used for treating upper respiratory tract infections and inflammation, and its potential efficacy on cancer management has attracted the attention of pharmacologists and clinicians in recent years. Emerging preclinical evidences of AP aqueous or ethanolic extracts, as well as AP’s major constituent, andrographolide, on diminishing cancer cells growth and tumor progression of gastrointestinal-related cancers were reported. Our research team has conducted preclinical anti-cancer research on AP for a decade, with the underlying mechanism of antimetastatic effects of AP aqueous extract revealed. Furthermore, our first clinical trial on AP for esophageal cancer patients has just been completed with promising clinical outcomes. In this chapter, we summarize the novel findings of AP on esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancer in both preclinical and clinical studies, as well as the beneficial effects obtained from the combination of AP and chemotherapeutics. It is anticipated that this review will provide comprehensive scientific evidences towards the anti-cancer effects of AP in gastrointestinal-related cancers, so that new insights will be gained for further development of AP as adjuvant for such cancer treatment.