Amla

Amla, also known as “Indian gooseberry” is the edible fruit of a bushy tree with deciduous leaves from the Euphorbiaceae family, which can reach a height of fifteen metres. Its light green leaves are simple and closely spaced along the branches. In the autumn, its greenish-yellow flowers blossom into round greenish-orange fruits, also called “amalaki”.

Latin name

Emblica officinalis Gaertn.

Origin

India

Used part

The ripe berries

Active components

Fibre: suitable for absorbing excess stomach acid.
Tannins: these antioxidant based substances, with astringent properties, protect the gastric mucosa and help in the case of gastric ulcers.
Flavonoids: antioxidants, slow inflammatory reactions.
Vitamin C: antioxidant, neutralises free radicals.

Usage

The berries have a semi-acidic flavour and are rich in fibre. They can be eaten raw or dried but are mainly used as an ingredient in dishes, particularly as a natural preservative. They are also served in sugared or salted water with herbs. Thanks to their high tannin content, these berries are used as a fixing agent for colourants. In Thailand, the extract of the berries, leaves and stems is used to combat fever, hepatitis and inflammation, as well as to treat skin injuries and disorders. Amla is also used to promote digestion and can be taken both in the case of diarrhoea and constipation _1-3. This berry is still one of the most used plants in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. It is currently used in all sorts of cosmetic products, thanks to its protective properties against oxidative stress. This makes it an exceptional component in the fight against premature skin ageing ₄₇. The oil from the berries is also used in all sorts of cosmetic products, such as shampoo and conditioner. A recent study revealed that this plant presents a highly promising effect on brain function. It might also have antidepressant properties _8-11. Amla also has immunostimulant properties because it reinforces the cytotoxic action of the natural killer cells _12-14. Not only does it protect the gastric mucosa _15-20 but it also protects the health of the different organs of the digestive system _21-31.

Bibliographical references

Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn), a wonder berry in the treatment and prevention of cancer.
Baliga MS, Dsouza JJ.
Eur J Cancer Prev. 2011 May;20(3):225-39.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21317655
Therapeutic Potential of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Inflammatory Diseases.
Tsai WH, Yang CC, Li PC, Chen WC, Chien CT5.
J Tradit Complement Med. 2013 Jul;3(3):142-151.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24716170
Emblica officinalis (Amla): A review of potential therapeutic applications
Bhandari, Prasan R.; Kamdod, Mohammad Ameeruddin
International Journal of Green Pharmacy;Oct-Dec2012, Vol. 6 Issue 4, p257
International Journal of Green Pharmacy: http://www.greenpharmacy.info/article.asp?issn=0973-8258;year=2012;volume=6;issue=4;spage=257;epage=269;aulast=Bhandari
Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) extract promotes procollagen production and inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human skin fibroblasts.
Fujii T, Wakaizumi M, Ikami T, Saito M.
J Ethnopharmacol 2008;119:53-7.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18588964
Inhibition of UV-induced ROS and collagen damage by Phyllanthus emblica extract in normal human dermal fibroblasts.
Majeed M, Bhat B, Anand S, Sivakumar A, Paliwal P, Geetha KG.
J Cosmet Sci 2011;62:49-56
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21443845
Effect of Emblica officinalis (fruit) against UVB-induced photo-aging in human skin fibroblasts.
Adil MD, Kaiser P, Satti NK, Zargar AM, Vishwakarma RA, Tasduq SA.
J Ethnopharmacol 2010;132:109-14.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20688142
Emblica officinalis exerts wound healing action through up-regulation of collagen and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2).
Sumitra M, Manikandan P, Gayathri VS, Mahendran P, Suguna L.
Wound Repair Regen 2009;17:99-107.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19152656
Antioxidant activity of tannoid principles of Emblica officinalis (amla) in chronic stress induced changes in rat brain.
Bhattacharya A, Ghosal S, Bhattacharya SK.
Indian J Exp Biol 2000;38:877-80.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12561944
Possible involvement of monoaminergic neurotransmission in antidepressant-like activity of Emblica officinalis fruits in mice.
Dhingra D, Joshi P, Gupta A, Chhillar R.
CNS Neurosci Ther 2012;18:419-25
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22070517
Effect of Anwala churna (Emblica officinalis GAERTN.): An ayurvedic preparation on memory deficit rats. Vasudevan M, Parle M.
Yakugaku Zasshi 2007;127:1701-7.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17917427
Memory enhancing activity of Anwala churna (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.): An Ayurvedic preparation.
Vasudevan M, Parle M.
Physiol Behav 2007;91:46-54
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17343883
Studies on Emblica officinalis derived tannins for their immunostimulatory and protective activities against coccidiosis in industrial broiler chickens.
Kaleem QM1, Akhtar M2, Awais MM3, Saleem M4, Zafar M5, Iqbal Z1, Muhammad F6, Anwar MI7.
ScientificWorldJournal. 2014 Jan 22;2014:378473.
PMC: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3919087/
Augmentation of murine natural killer cell and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity activities by Phyllanthus emblica, a new immunomodulator.
Suresh K, Vasudevan DM.
J Ethnopharmacol 1994;44:55-60
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7990505
Cyto-protective and immunomodulating properties of Amla (Emblica officinalis) on lymphocytes: An in-vitro study.
Sai Ram M, Neetu D, Yogesh B, Anju B, Dipti P, Pauline T, et al.
J Ethnopharmacol 2002;81:5-10.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12020921
Biphasic Effect of Phyllanthus emblica L. Extract on NSAID-Induced Ulcer: An Antioxidative Trail Weaved with Immunomodulatory Effect.
Chatterjee A, Chattopadhyay S, Bandyopadhyay SK.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:146808.
PMC: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2976071/
Healing Properties of Some Indian Medicinal Plants against Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulceration of Rats.
Bhattacharya S, Chaudhuri SR, Chattopadhyay S, Bandyopadhyay SK.
J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2007 Sep;41(2):106-14.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18193104
Gastroprotective effects of 'Amla' Emblica officinalis on in vivo test models in rats.
Al-Rehaily AJ1, Al-Howiriny TA, Al-Sohaibani MO, Rafatullah S.
Phytomedicine. 2002 Sep;9(6):515-22.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12403160
Antiulcerogenic effect of methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis: an experimental study.
Sairam K1, Rao ChV, Babu MD, Kumar KV, Agrawal VK, K Goel RK.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Sep;82(1):1-9.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12169398
The role of antioxidant activity of Phyllanthus emblica fruits on prevention from indomethacin induced gastric ulcer.
Bandyopadhyay SK1, Pakrashi SC, Pakrashi A.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 May;70(2):171-6.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10771207
Antioxidant effect ofPhyllanthus emblica fruits on healing of indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in rats
Anita Pakrashi, Srikanta Pandit, Sandip K. Bandyopadhyay, Satyesh C. Pakrashi
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry January 2003, Volume 18, Issue 1, pp 15-21
PMC: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3453744/pdf/12291_2008_Article_BF02867660.pdf
Beneficial effects of Emblica officinalis in L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis in rats.
Sidhu S, Pandhi P, Malhotra S, Vaiphei K, Khanduja KL.
J Med Food 2011;14:147-55
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21138365
Emblica officinalis: a novel therapy for acute pancreatitis - an experimental study.
Thorat SP1, Rege NN, Naik AS, Thatte UM, Joshi A, Panicker KN, Bapat RD, Dahanukar SA.
HPB Surg. 1995;9(1):25-30.
PMC: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2443754/pdf/HPB-09-025.pdf
Composition and Biological Activities of Hydrolyzable Tannins of Fruits of Phyllanthus emblica.
Yang B, Liu P.
J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jan 9.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24369850
Antioxidant activity and polyphenol content in edible wild fruits from Nepal.
Chalise JP, Acharya K, Gurung N, et al.
Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2010;61(4):425–432.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20187713
Antioxidant effect of Phyllanthus emblica extract prevents contrast-induced acute kidney injury.
Tasanarong A1, Kongkham S, Itharat A.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014 Apr 22;14(1):138.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24755233
Anti-diabetic effects of the Indian indigenous fruit Emblica officinalis Gaertn: active constituents and modes of action.
D'souza JJ1, D'souza PP, Fazal F, Kumar A, Bhat HP, Baliga MS.
Food Funct. 2014 Apr;5(4):635-44.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24577384
Arsenic-Induced Hepatic Toxicity and Its Attenuation by Fruit Extract of Emblica officinalis (Amla) in Mice.
Singh MK, Dwivedi S, Yadav SS, Sharma P, Khattri S.
Indian J Clin Biochem. 2014 Jan;29(1):29-37.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24478546
Alcohol-induced oxidative stress in rat liver microsomes: Protective effect of Emblica officinalis.
Reddy VD, Padmavathi P, Hymavathi R, Maturu P, Varadacharyulu NC.
Pathophysiology. 2014 Jan 3. pii: S0928-4680(13)00083-7.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24393670
Hepatoprotective properties of the Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn): a review.
Thilakchand KR1, Mathai RT, Simon P, Ravi RT, Baliga-Rao MP, Baliga MS.
Food Funct. 2013 Oct;4(10):1431-41.
Pubmed: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23978895
Roles of Emblica officinalis in Medicine - A Review
K.H. Khan
Botany Research International 2 (4): 218-228, 2009
IDOSI: http://idosi.org/bri/2(4)09/1.pdf
Efficacy of crude extract of Emblica officinalis (amla) in arsenic-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in splenocytes of mice.
Singh MK, Yadav SS, Yadav RS, Singh US, Shukla Y, Pant KK, Khattri S.
Toxicol Int. 2014 Jan;21(1):8-17.
PMC: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3989920/