ANDROGRAPHOLIDE AND HESPERIDIN – A BRIEF OVERVIEW

Andrographolide is a labdane diterpenoid isolated from the leaves and roots of Andrographis paniculata Nees (Acanthaceae). Andrographolide is isolated by various processes and the simple method is the maceration process. It is bitter in taste and used as hepatoprotective, cholinergic, antispasmodic, stomachic, anthelmentic, alterative, blood purifier, and febrifuge. It promotes the secretion of bile in the liver and is used in jaundice, torpid liver, cold and upper respiratory tract infection. It is also used in the treatment of snake bites and is found to be more effective than the anti-snake venom generally used. Hesperidin is a flavanone glycoside isolated from the peels of Citrus sinensis (Rutaceae). Hesperidin plays an important role in plant defense mechanisms. Hesperidin is commonly isolated by two laboratory processes maceration and continuous percolation method. The major pharmacological actions of the hesperidin reported are anti-hyperlipidemic, cardioprotective, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiartherogenic activity. However, what is noteworthy about this paper is highlighting the evidence-based overview on the chemical and physical nature of Andrographolide and Hesperidin along with a brief account on the plants from which they are isolated, the extraction and isolation procedures of the above chemical constituents, their physical properties and structure along with their pharmacological properties are also discussed.