Andrographis paniculata has a broad range of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. Therapeutic efficacy of A. paniculata extract is mainly attributed to andrographolide, which has antihepatotoxic activity against many liver toxins including acetaminophen-induced liver injury, as an example.

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The effect of andrographolide was found to be more potent than silymarin against acetaminophen-induced reduction of the volume and contents of bile. Andrographolide was also shown to protect against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice with an equivalent efficacy of silymarin.