Omnia SanaPlant Comparison
Andrographis vs Clove
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Andrographis and Clove: they share 6 indicated uses (arthritis / joint pain, cancer (anticancer research), infection (general), …); 3 pharmacological actions in common.
Evidence face-off — shared uses
| Condition | Andrographis | Clove | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arthritis / joint pain | 5/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Andrographis |
| Cancer (anticancer research) | 2/10 | 2/10 | Comparable evidence |
| Infection (general) | 8/10 | 2/10 | Stronger for Andrographis |
| Inflammation (general) | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Andrographis |
| Skin irritation | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Andrographis |
| Wounds | 5/10 | 1/10 | Stronger for Andrographis |
Evidence scores (1–10) are computed from the tier of each cited source. “Comparable” means the two scores are within one point. Follow a score to its detailed sources.
Key Constituents
Eugenol typically makes up the great majority of clove oil and is responsible for most of its analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity.
Pharmacological Actions
Andrographolide, the principal diterpene lactone of Andrographis paniculata, suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis across breast, lung, colon, cervical, hepatic and haematological cancers via NF-kappaB and PI3K/Akt inhibition (preclinical).
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Andrographolide (from Andrographis paniculata) acts as a chemopreventive and antitumour agent against breast, lung, colorectal, cervical, prostate and hepatocellular cancers and leukaemia, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting NF-kappaB and PI3K/AKT signalling (preclinical).
Symptomatic relief of the common cold and acute upper respiratory tract infection (reduces symptom severity and duration)
Immunostimulant / immune support
Symptomatic relief of the common cold and acute upper respiratory tract infection (reduces symptom severity and duration)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anticancer action
inferred from digestive action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Avoid in pregnancy and when trying to conceive: high doses have shown reproductive toxicity in animals and the herb has a traditional reputation as an abortifacient.
High doses have caused nephrotoxicity and reproductive toxicity in studies; use standardized products at recommended doses and avoid prolonged high-dose use.
Strong and concentrated: Clove oil is very potent and should always be diluted before skin or mouth use.Dental use: Undiluted clove oil can burn gums or skin.Blood thinning: Clove may increase bleeding risk in large amounts or with anticoagulants.Pregnancy: Culinary amounts are fine; medicinal doses should be used cautiously.Children: Essential oil should be used with extra caution and diluted well.
Duke (2002) rates cloves as +++ with clinical evidence (score 2) for analgesic activity — specifically, topical application of clove oil (eugenol) for dental pain is clinically validated. The plant also shows strong antimicrobial, antifungal (anti-Candida), antispasmodic, and antiviral activities at the experimental level. Commission E approves topical clove preparations for dental pain. Recommended dose: 1–5% clove oil preparation (topical) or 150 mg clove powder internally. The essential oil is irritating to mucous membranes and should not be applied undiluted to skin or mucous membranes (Duke, 2002).
External Ids
Botanical Description
Erect, branching annual herb with a slender, quadrangular (square-sectioned), dark green stem. The leaves are opposite, lance-shaped and glabrous, with a short stalk. Small, two-lipped, white flowers with purple-pink markings are borne in loose, spreading axillary and terminal racemes. The whole plant, and especially the leaves, is intensely and characteristically bitter.[11]
Evergreen tree (Myrtaceae), 8-12 m tall (occasionally to 20 m), with a pyramidal crown. Leaves are glossy, elliptical and aromatic. Small crimson flowers are borne in terminal clusters; the unopened flower buds, picked before they open and dried, are the 'cloves' of commerce and the medicinal/culinary part used.[2]
Habitat
Native to India and Sri Lanka and widely distributed through South and Southeast Asia, growing wild in plains, hillsides, roadsides and cultivated fields; also grown commercially as a medicinal crop.[11]
Native to the Maluku Islands (Moluccas, the historic 'Spice Islands') of Indonesia, now cultivated throughout the tropics, notably Zanzibar, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, in warm, humid, well-drained tropical conditions.[2]
Harvesting
The aerial parts (leaves and tender stems) are cut just before or at the onset of flowering, when andrographolide content is typically highest, and dried in shade to preserve the bitter diterpenoid lactones.[11]
Unopened flower buds are hand-picked while still green-pink, just before they would open, then sun-dried until they turn dark reddish-brown - the familiar clove spice.[2]
Traditional Uses
Andrographis, the 'king of bitters', is a cornerstone bitter tonic of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine (Chuan xin lian), used for fevers, colds, sore throat, infections and liver complaints. This traditional reputation for treating the common cold and upper respiratory infections is now supported by clinical trials of standardised extracts.[10, 12]
Clove has an ancient trade history and a long traditional use across Asian, African and European medicine as a dental analgesic (chewed or applied as oil for toothache), a digestive carminative, and an antiseptic. Modern research on its principal constituent eugenol supports strong analgesic, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, with clove oil remaining a recognised topical dental-pain remedy.[2]
Preparations
Dried aerial parts infused or lightly decocted in hot water as a very bitter traditional fever and cold remedy.
Dosage
Clinical trials for upper respiratory infection commonly use extracts standardised to around 60-120 mg andrographolide daily, in divided doses, for up to 5-7 days. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
The WHO monograph on Herba Andrographidis gives, by indication - for the common cold, 1.5-3.0 g of the powdered crude drug three times daily, after meals and at bedtime; for pyrexia, a decoction from 3 g of the crude drug twice daily; for diarrhoea, a decoction from 3-9 g as a single dose as needed, or two 500 mg tablets four times daily. Note that the EMA HMPC assessed this herb and issued a public statement rather than a monograph, so there is no EU posology. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Lookalikes Review
References & Sources
- Okonogi, R. and others (2023) 'Efficacy of Andrographis paniculata spray in acute pharyngitis: A randomized controlled trial', Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics, 17(5), pp. 315-321. doi:10.5582/ddt.2023.01053 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.5582/ddt.2023.01053 - Hossain, S., Urbi, Z., Karuniawati, H., Mohiuddin, R.B. and others (2018) 'Overview of pharmacological activities of Andrographis paniculata and its major compound andrographolide', Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 61(10), pp. 1635-1652. doi:10.1080/10408398.2018.1501657 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2018.1501657 - Worakunphanich, W. and others (2021) 'Andrographis paniculata Formulations: Impact on Diterpene Lactone Oral Bioavailability', European Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, 46(5), pp. 565-581. doi:10.1007/s13318-021-00736-7 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13318-021-00736-7 - Worakunphanich, W., Thavorncharoensap, M., Youngkong, S., Thakkinstian, A. and Chaikledkaew, U (2021) 'Safety of Andrographis paniculata: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 30(6), pp. 727-739. doi:10.1002/pds.5190 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/pds.5190 - Kumar, S., Singh, B. and Bajpai, V (2021) 'Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees and its major constituent andrographolide as potential antiviral agents', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 274, pp. 113954. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.113954 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2021.113954 - Barbosa, F.L. and others (2021) 'Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees: An Updated Review of Phytochemistry, Antimicrobial Pharmacology, and Clinical Safety and Efficacy', Life, 11(4), pp. 348. doi:10.3390/life11040348 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/life11040348 - Singh, P. and others (2022) 'Andrographis paniculata mitigates first-line anti-tubercular drugs-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats', Biomarkers, 27(4), pp. 385-394. doi:10.1080/1354750X.2022.2043444 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/1354750X.2022.2043444 - Coon, J.T. and Ernst, E (2004) 'Andrographis paniculata in the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection: systematic review of randomized controlled trials', Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 29(1), pp. 37-45. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2710.2003.00534.x Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2710.2003.00534.x - Rondee, N. and others (2023) 'The Effects of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.F.) Wall. Ex Nees and Andrographolide on Neuroinflammation in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases', Nutrients, 15(15), pp. 3428. doi:10.3390/nu15153428 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15153428 - Zeng, B., Wei, A., Zhou, Q., Yuan, M., Lei, K., Liu, Y., Song, J., Guo, L. and Ye, Q (2021) 'Andrographolide: A review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and clinical trials and pharmaceutical researches', Phytotherapy Research. doi:10.1002/ptr.7324 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7324 - Gonde, D.P., Bhole, B.K. and Kakad, K.S (2023) 'Andrographolide, diterpenoid constituent of Andrographis paniculata: Review on botany, phytochemistry, molecular docking analysis, and pharmacology', Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises. doi:10.1016/j.pharma.2023.10.001 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharma.2023.10.001 - Hu, X.Y., Wu, R.H., Logue, M., Blondel, C., Lai, L.Y.W., Stuart, B., Flower, A., Fei, Y.T., Moore, M., Shepherd, J., Liu, J.P. and Lewith, G (2017) 'Andrographis paniculata (Chuan Xin Lian) for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory tract infections in adults and children: A systematic review and meta-analysis', PLoS ONE. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0181780 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181780 - World Health Organization (2002) 'Herba Andrographidis'. Available at: https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 Traditional / reference
https://iris.who.int/items/6418d8af-5200-4e6b-9bf5-004f3aa62a37 - Tundis, R. and Patra, J.K. and Bonesi, M. and Das, S. and Nath, R. and Das Talukdar, A. and Das, G. and Loizzo, M.R (2023) 'Anti-Cancer Agent: The Labdane Diterpenoid-Andrographolide', Plants, 12(10), pp. 1969. doi:10.3390/plants12101969 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101969 - Mishra, S.K. and Tripathi, S. and Shukla, A. and Oh, S.H. and Kim, H.M (2015) 'Andrographolide and analogues in cancer prevention', Frontiers in Bioscience (Elite Edition), 7(2), pp. 255-266. doi:10.2741/E732 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.2741/E732 - Paul, S. and Roy, D. and Pati, S. and Sa, G (2021) 'The Adroitness of Andrographolide as a Natural Weapon Against Colorectal Cancer', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, pp. 731492. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.731492 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.731492 - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (n.d.) 'Andrographis (About Herbs)'. Available at: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/andrographis Traditional / reference
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/andrographis
- Haro-Gonzalez, J.N., Castillo-Herrera, G.A., Martinez-Velazquez, M. and Espinosa-Andrews, H (2021) 'Clove Essential Oil (Syzygium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): Extraction, Chemical Composition, Food Applications, and Essential Bioactivity for Human Health', Molecules, 26(21), pp. 6387. doi:10.3390/molecules26216387 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26216387 - Batiha, G.E., Alkazmi, L.M., Wasef, L.G., Beshbishy, A.M. and others (2020) 'Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae): Traditional Uses, Bioactive Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological and Toxicological Activities', Biomolecules, 10(2), pp. 202. doi:10.3390/biom10020202 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10020202 - Vicidomini, C., Roviello, V. and Roviello, G.N (2021) 'Molecular Basis of the Therapeutical Potential of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) and Clues to Its Anti-COVID-19 Utility', Molecules, 26(7), pp. 1880. doi:10.3390/molecules26071880 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26071880 - Irahal, I.N., Guenaou, I., Lahlou, F.A., Hmimid, F. and others (2022) 'Syzygium aromaticum bud (clove) essential oil is a novel and safe aldose reductase inhibitor: in silico, in vitro, and in vivo evidence', Hormones (Athens), 21(2), pp. 229-240. doi:10.1007/s42000-021-00347-6 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-021-00347-6 - Yassin, M.T., Mostafa, A.A. and Al-Askar, A.A (2020) 'In vitro anticandidal potency of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) extracts against vaginal candidiasis', BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 20(1), pp. 25. doi:10.1186/s12906-020-2818-8 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-2818-8 - Kiki, M.J (2023) 'In Vitro Antiviral Potential, Antioxidant, and Chemical Composition of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) Essential Oil', Molecules, 28(6), pp. 2421. doi:10.3390/molecules28062421 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062421 - Radunz, M., da Trindade, M.L.M., Camargo, T.M., Radunz, A.L. and others (2019) 'Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of unencapsulated and encapsulated clove (Syzygium aromaticum, L.) essential oil', Food Chemistry, 276, pp. 180-186. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.173 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.173 - Shakeel, F., Alam, P., Ali, A., Alqarni, M.H. and others (2021) 'Investigating Antiarthritic Potential of Nanostructured Clove Oil (Syzygium aromaticum) in FCA-Induced Arthritic Rats: Pharmaceutical Action and Delivery Strategies', Molecules, 26(23), pp. 7327. doi:10.3390/molecules26237327 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26237327 - Tu, Z., Moss-Pierce, T., Ford, P. and Jiang, T.A (2014) 'Syzygium aromaticum L. (Clove) extract regulates energy metabolism in myocytes', Journal of Medicinal Food, 17(9), pp. 1003-1010. doi:10.1089/jmf.2013.0175 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2013.0175 - Banerjee, S., Panda, C.K. and Das, S (2006) 'Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.), a potential chemopreventive agent for lung cancer', Carcinogenesis, 27(8), pp. 1645-1654. doi:10.1093/carcin/bgi372 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1093/carcin/bgi372 - Bhowmik, D., Kumar, K.P.S., Yadav, A., Srivastava, S., Paswan, S. and Dutta, A.S (2012) 'Recent trends in Indian traditional herbs Syzygium aromaticum and its health benefits', 1(1), pp. 13--23. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Recent%20trends%20in%20Indian%20traditional%20herbs%20Syzygium%20aromaticum%20and%20its%20health%20benefits - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - World Health Organization (2002) 'WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=WHO%20Monographs%20on%20Selected%20Medicinal%20Plants - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.