Pharmacological Effects and Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Dehydroandrographolide

Dehydroandrographolide (Deh) is one of the main active ingredients of the traditional Chinese medicine Andrographis paniculata. In recent years, its pharmacological research has made remarkable progress in the fields of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antiviral therapies. As a traditional herbal medicine, Andrographis paniculata has long been used in the clinical treatment of infectious diseases, immune disorders, and liver injury. Deh, the plant's core active molecule, has demonstrated therapeutic potential beyond that of its source, owing to its distinctive chemical structure and multitarget mechanism of action. Studies have shown that Deh not only inhibits inflammatory responses by regulating NF-κB, Nrf2, and other related pathways but also induces apoptosis and cycle blockade in tumor cells and exerts antiviral effects by interfering with the viral replication cycle. In this review, we systematically summarized the diverse pharmacological activities of Deh and its molecular mechanisms, drawing attention to its potential role in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. We hope this work will serve as a theoretical reference for designing innovative drugs based on natural products and encourage the clinical translation of Andrographis paniculata's active ingredients.