AP-Bio, a standardized Andrographis paniculata extract marketed by Natural Remedies, was shown in a recent clinical trial to beneficially modulate immune responses in a newly-published study.
 
The ingredient, also known as KalmCold in Europe, is standardized to contain high levels of seven bioactive compounds, and clinical research suggests that it is efficacious in managing immuno-stimulatory activity at a low dose.
 
In the present study, appearing in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 21 healthy participants consumed 200 mg of AP-Bio daily for 30 days. Throughout the study, the participants had measurements taken of immune NK cells, T cells, T helper cells, T cytotoxic cells, and cytokines such as IFN-y, IL-4, IL-2, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha on days 0, 3, 7, and 30, Deepak Mundkinajeddu, PhD, Natural Remedies’ head of R&D, said.
 
He reported that the study results indicated a significant increase in T cells and T helper cells compared to baseline at day 7 and 30 and a significant increase in IFN-y and IL-4 at day 30. A transient significant increase in IL-2 at day 7 was also observed, which the authors of the study said could be helpful in T cell proliferation. The authors of the study concluded that supplementation with AP-Bio for 30 days in healthy participants provided noticeable immunomodulatory effects, as evidenced by changes in immune cells and cytokines.
 
“T cells form an important component of cell-mediated immunity that regulate the activation and proliferation of other immune system cells such as macrophages, B cells, and other T cells,” the authors of the study wrote. “This was the first pilot study investigating the immunomodulatory effects of SAPE [standardized Andrographis paniculata extract] in healthy adults. SAPE administration for 30 days increased the lymphocyte counts and modulated the cytokine production which suggests that it modulates the immune function in healthy people. In addition, it is found to be safe and tolerable.”
 
Prior studies have already suggested that AP-Bio can demonstrate influence on immunity through supporting healthy inflammatory response and immunostimulatory balance, with one study concluding that a 200 mg dose of AP-Bio taken daily for five days had efficacious benefits on common cold symptoms, Mundkinajeddu said. “A unique, effective, and safe Andrographis paniculata for the worldwide immune support marketplace is AP-Bio,” he said. “AP-Bio is the only Andrographis standardized to seven phytoconstituents: andrographolide (30%), isoandrographolide, neoandrographolide, 14-deoxy-11, 12-didehydroandrographolide, androgapanin, skullcapflavone-1, and 7-O-methylwogonin. This full profile of actives makes AP-Bio a potent Andrographis for a variety of immune-support formulas.”