[Latin Name] Andrographis paniculata(Burm.f.)Nees

[Plant Source] Whole herb

[Specification] Andrographolides 10%-98% HPLC

[Appearance] White powder

Plant Part Used: Herb

[Particle size] 80Mesh

[Loss on drying] ≤5.0%

[Heavy Metal] ≤10PPM

[Storage] Store in cool & dry area, keep away from the direct light and heat.

[Shelf life] 24 Months

[Package] Packed in paper-drums and two plastic-bags inside.

[Net weight] 25kgs/drum

[What is Andrographis?]

Andrographis paniculata is a bitter tasting annual plant, referred to as the “King of Bitters.” It has white-purple flowers and it is native to Asia and India where it has been valued for centuries for its numerous medicinal benefits. Over the past decade, andrographis has become popular in America where it is often used alone and in combination with other herbs for a variety of health purposes.

[How does it work?]

According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the active ingredient in andrographis is andrographolides. Due to the andrographolides, andrographis has potent anti-inflammatory and antimalarial properties. It also has antimicrobial properties, meaning it can help to fight off and prevent infections from harmful microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. In addition, andrographis is a powerful antioxidant and it can help to prevent free radical induced damage to your cells and DNA

[Function]

Cold and Flu

Scientists have discovered that andrographis helps to boost the immune system by stimulating the body’s production of antibodies and macrophages, which are large white blood cells that scavenge harmful microorganisms. It is taken for both the prevention and treatment of the common cold, and it is often referred to as Indian echinacea. It might help lessen the severity of cold symptoms such as sleeplessness, fever, nasal drainage and sore throat.

Cancer, Viral Infections and Heart Health

Andrographis may also help to prevent and treat cancer, and preliminary studies done in test tubes found that extracts of andrographis help to treat stomach, skin, prostate and breast cancer. Due to the herb’s antiviral properties, andrographis is used to treat herpes and it is also currently being studied as a treatment for Aids and HIV as well. Andrographis also promotes heart health and can help to prevent the formation of blood clots as well as to dissolve already formed blood clots. In addition, the herb relaxes smooth muscles in the walls of blood vessels and thereby helps to reduce high blood pressure.

Additional Benefits

Andrographis is used to promote gallbladder and digestive health. It also helps to support and strengthen the liver and it is used in combination with other herbs in several Ayurvedic formulations to treat liver disorders. Finally, andrographis extracts taken orally have been found to help neutralize the poisonous effects of snake venom.

Dosage and Precautions

The therapeutic dose of andrographis is 400 mg, twice daily, for up to 10 days. Although andrographis is considered safe in humans, the NYU Langone Medical Center warns that animal studies suggest that it may impair fertility. Andrographis may cause unwanted side effects such as headaches, fatigue, allergic reactions, nausea, diarrhea, altered taste and pain in the lymph nodes. It may also interact with certain medications and as with any supplement you should consult your health care practitioner before taking the herb.

TEDx Del Mar Oct 2011 Richard Insel, M.D.: Is There a Vaccine?

Our theme for TEDxDelMar 2011 was “A Search For A Cure”. In this talk, Dr. Richard Insel gives us his presentation entitled “Is There a Vaccine?”

Richard Insel, M.D. is Chief Scientific Officer for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Dr. Insel oversees the research strategy at the JDRF, the worlds’ largest funder of type 1 diabetes research and that is focused on curing, treating, and preventing type 1 diabetes and its complications. Prior to joining JDRF in 2003, Dr. Insel was founding Director of the Center for Human Genetics and Molecular Pediatric Disease and Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology/ Immunology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. During his 26-year affiliation with the University of Rochester Medical Center, he also held several positions including Acting Chair of Pediatrics, Director of the Strong Children’s Research Center, and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology. His research program at the University focused on immune responses to bacterial vaccines, including polysaccharide and protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines, and B cell immunity. Dr. Insel was a scientific co-founder and served as a member of the Board of Directors of Praxis Biologics, a biotechnology company that developed Haemophilus influenzae conjugate vaccines, which have been instrumental in eliminating invasive disease from that pathogen in the United States. He served recently on the National Advisory Allergy and Infectious Diseases Council of the National Institutes of Health and the External Advisory Panel for the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and currently serves on the Board of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine and the Steering Committee of TrialNet. Dr. Insel received pediatric and immunology training at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, St. Mary’s Medical College, and the Center for Disease Control and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

In this clip (4 of 10), Dr. Sasisekharan examines some of the key features of linear polysaccharides, with chrondroitin and heparin as examples.
This clip is part of a lecture, “Studying the Effects of Natural Products,” by Ram Sasisekharan, Ph.D, Alfred H. Caspary Professor of Biological Engineering and Health Sciences and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This lecture, given at NIH in 2006, is part of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Online Continuing Education Series. Free CME/CEU credit is available to health professionals (see https://nccam.nih.gov/training/videolectures).