Phyllanthus Emblica: The Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activity and Therapeutic Application of Amla

Abstract

PhyllanthusEmblica, Indian Gooseberry and in Sanskrit we all known as “AMALAKI”, is a small to medium sized deciduous tree. It belongs to the Family Phyllanthus. Amalaki is the one of the most beneficial components in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Chinese Medicine System. Amalaki is a type of notable fruit due to it’s high level of Vit-C. According to “CHARAK SAMHITA” amalaki is used to treat a lot of disease we also called it ‘AMRIT PHALA’ which mean ‘Fruit Of Heaven’.Tridosha and Panchbhuta both are the principle of oldest medicine system in world AYURVEDA , and AMLA is well mentioned in Ayurveda for it’s traditional uses and theurepeutic applications. So in this review Article we concern the phytochemistry, pharmacololgical activity and therapeutic application of Amla. The different chemical constituents found in Amalkiare showing fallowing activities- Antioxidant, Antitussive, Anti-inflammatory, Antiviral, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Anti-diabetic,Cardioprotectivce, Hypolipidemicetc.

Introduction

The Amla tree (Phyllanthus emblica), also known as Indian gooseberry, is a medium-sized deciduous plant native to the Indian subcontinent. It typically grows to a height of 5–8 meters and features a spreading canopy with small, light green leaves. The tree produces small, greenish-yellow flowers that give way to round, greenish-yellow fruits about the size of a small apple. These fruits are known for their high vitamin C content and are used in various traditional remedies, Ayurvedic medicine, and culinary preparations.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+6pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+6sciencedirect.com+6

Morphology:

• Leaves: Clusters of small, rectangular, light-green leaves along the branches.

• Flowers: Small, greenish-yellow blooms, either single or in clusters.

• Fruits: Spherical, greenish-yellow fruits, roughly the size of a tiny apple, with a sour taste and silky texture.

• Bark: Hard and ranges in color from light brown to gray, often peeling and cracking.

• Branches: Spreading canopy with thin, drooping limbs.

• Roots: Shallow and spreading, allowing the tree to absorb nutrients from a wide area.

Phytochemical Composition:

Amla is rich in various bioactive compounds, including:

• Alkaloids: Phyllantine, phyllantidine, phyllembein.

• Flavonoids: Quercetin, kaempferol.

• Tannins: Geranlin, emblicanin A/B, punigluconin, pedunculagin, chebulinic acid, chebulagic acid, corilagin.

• Amino Acids: Glutamic acid, proline, aspartic acid, alanine, cystine, lysine.

• Fatty Acids: Oleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid.

• Organic Acids: Citric acid, oxalic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid.

• Phenolic Compounds: Gallic acid, methylgallate, ellagic acid, trigallayl glucose.

• Vitamins: Vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, alpha, gamma, and delta tocopherol.

• Minerals: Aluminum, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc.

Pharmacological Actions:

Amla exhibits several pharmacological properties due to its rich content of bioactive compounds:

• Antioxidant: Scavenges free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and protecting cells from damage.

• Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation, beneficial in conditions like arthritis and asthma.

• Immunomodulatory: Enhances immune response, protecting against infections.

• Anti-diabetic: Regulates blood sugar levels and improves insulin sensitivity.

• Hepatoprotective: Protects the liver from damage and supports liver function.

• Cardiovascular Benefits: Reduces cholesterol levels, improves blood circulation, and protects against heart disease.

• Anti-cancer: May help prevent cancer cell growth and proliferation.

Traditional and Culinary Uses:

In Ayurveda, Amla is considered a powerful rejuvenating herb and is used in various formulations to promote overall health and well-being. The fruits are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, making them beneficial for boosting immunity, improving digestion, promoting hair health, and supporting skin health. Amla is also used in traditional Indian cuisine, where it is often consumed raw, pickled, or used in chutneys, jams, and preserves. It is also a common ingredient in herbal teas and health supplements.

Overall, Amla is a versatile tree with a wide range of uses and benefits, making it an important plant in traditional medicine and culinary practices.

Conclusion

At this time all know that research on Indian traditional plants has gained a new recommence. Amla is a nutrient-dense fruit that has been used for centuries in traditional ayurvedic medicines. Amla has a different position in AYURVEDA due to its traditional and pharmacological properties which are scientifically proved such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune booster, antidiabetic, anticancer. Emblicaofficinalis has so many phytoconstituents which are provide health benefits and treat different type of disease. This medicinal plant also have few chemical constituents such as polyphenol which can used to treat cancer and on this point study is going on. Amla is a good source of vitamin C, the juice extract from amla fruit contains about 478.56mg/100ml vit.C. Whole plant mean leaves, fruits, seads can be used tp treat diabetes mellitus. One amla fruit is equal to 10-12 oranges in term of vit.-C , 2-3 apples in the terms of fiber and ½ cup of Spanich in terms of iron content. Overall, amla is a versatile and valuable fruit that warrants further research to fully explore its all therapeutic application. This gooseberry is considerd to be a safe herbal medicine without any adverse effects

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Anshuman Bajpai, Jahnvi Shukla, Himanshu Singh, Anshu Kumar Dwivedi, Amit Shukla, Ashutosh Verma, Vaibhav Shukla, Vikas Dwivedi. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.