Health Care Professional Information
Scientific Name
Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus emblica L.
Common Name
Gooseberry, amla, amalaka, amalaki
Clinical Summary
Emblica officinalis is a deciduous tree prevalent in Asia. The fruits and other parts of the plant are commonly used in traditional medicine for various ailments including diarrhea, jaundice, headaches, inflammation, and as a tonic (1). It is also one of the constituents of the Ayurvedic formulation, Triphala. The activity of E. officinalis is often attributed to its antioxidant constituents, such as ascorbic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins (2) (3). E. officinalis has antioxidant (1) (4) (5), antibacterial (6), hepatoprotective (7) , cardioprotective (3) radioprotective (8), antiulcerogenic (9), antitumor (10), analgesic (11), antidiabetic (12), and antihyperlipidemic (13) properties both in vitro and in vivo.
E. officinalis demonstrated antioxidant effects in uremic patients (5) and lipid-lowering properties in healthy and diabetic patients (16).
Purported Uses
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Jaundice
- Headaches
- Inflammation
- Chronic ulcers
- Hyperlipidemia
Constituents
- Vitamins: Ascorbic acid, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin
- Tannins: Emblican A, Emblican B
- Gallic Acid, Carbohydrates, Amino Acids
(1)
Mechanism of Action
The antioxidant activity of E. officinalis is attributed to the high content of ascorbic acid (4) but it was discovered that such effects may be due to the tannins, Emblicanin A and Emblicanin B (1). Pyrogallol, a component of E. officinalis extract was found to cause cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, inhibit proliferation, and induce apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma (H441) and squamous cell cancer (H520) cell lines (2). Intraperitoneal pyrogallol injections also suppressed subcutaneous tumor growth in mice (2). An aqueous extract of E. officinalis decreased tumor volume through inhibiting the cell cycle regulating enzyme CDC25 (10). Progallin extracted from E. officinalis leaves also caused cell cycle arrest in the G1/M and G2/M phase, inhibited proliferation, and induce apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (BEL-7404) (14). An E. officinalis ethanol extract was found to have a cardioprotective effect against doxorubicin toxicity in vitro (3). This activity was attributed to the antioxidants in the extract (3). The antidiabetic property of E. officinalis is thought to be due to its ability to reduce release of inflammatory cytokines that cause insulin resistance (12). E. officinalis may also play a role in preventing age-related hyperlipidemia by reducing nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein levels via inhibiting NF-kappa B activation (13). E. officinalis extracts have also been found to induce apoptosis in mature osteoclasts, an effect that may limit bone resorption in pathologies associated with bone loss (15).
Adverse Reactions
Adverse effects are rare.
Literature Summary and Critique
Chen TS, et al. Supplementation of Emblica officinalis (Amla) extract reduces oxidative stress in uremic patients. Am J Chin Med. 2009;37(1):19-25.
The goal of this study was to determine whether an E. officinalis extract supplement can reduce oxidative stress. Seventeen uremic patients were enrolled and received E. officinalis supplementation for 4 months. Study results indicated that compared to baseline, E. officinalis supplements reduced the plasma oxidative marker, 8-isoprostaglandin (1415 + 1234 pg/ml vs 750 + 496 pg/ml, p<0.05) and increased plasma total antioxidant status (2.32 + 0.14 mM vs 2.55 + 0.24 mM, p<0.05) in uremic patients. No significant differences in liver (GOP or GPT) or renal function (creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and uric acid), diabetic (glucose and adiponectin) or atherogenic (LDL/HDL ratio, total cholesterol and homosysteine) indices were observed. The investigators concluded that E. officinalis supplementation may increase plasma antioxidant power and decrease oxidative stress in uremic patients.
Dosage (Inside MSKCC Only)
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References
- Scartezzini P, Speroni E. Review on some plants of Indian traditional medicine with antioxidant activity. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;71(1-2):23-43.
- Yang CJ, Wang CS, Hung JY, et al. Pyrogallol induces G2-M arrest in human lung cancer cells and inhibits tumor growth in an animal model. Lung Cancer. 2009 Nov;66(2):162-8.
- Wattanapitayakul SK, Chularojmontri L, Herunsalee A, et al. Screening of antioxidants from medicinal plants for cardioprotective effect against doxorubicin toxicity. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2005 Jan;96(1):80-7.
- Scartezzini P, Antognoni F, Raggi MA, Poli F, Sabbioni C. Vitamin C content and antioxidant activity of the fruit and of the Ayurvedic preparation of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;104(1-2):113-118.
- Chen TS, Liou SY, Chang YL. Supplementation of Emblica officinalis (Amla) extract reduces oxidative stress in uremic patients. Am J Chin Med. 2009;37(1):19-25.
- Ahmad I, Mehmood Z, Mohammad F. Screening of some Indian medicinal plants for their antimicrobial properties.J Ethnopharmacol. 1998;62(2):183-193.
- Hiraganahalli BD, Chinampudur VC, Dethe S, et al. Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of standardized herbal extracts. Pharmacogn Mag. 2012 Apr;8(30):116-23.
- Singh I, Sharma A, Nunia V, Goyal PK. Radioprotection of Swiss albino mice by Emblica officinalis. Phytother Res. 2005;19(5):444-446.
- Sairam K, Rao Ch V, Babu MD, et al. Antiulcerogenic effect of methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis: an experimental study. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;82(1):1-9.
- Jose JK, Kuttan G, Kuttan R. Antitumour activity of Emblica officinalis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001;75(2-3):65-69.
- Perianayagam JB, Sharma SK, Joseph A, et al. Evaluation of anti-pyretic and analgesic activity of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;95(1):83-85.
- Sabu MC, Kuttan R. Anti-diabetic activity of medicinal plants and its relationship with their antioxidant property. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;81(2):155-160.
- Yokozawa T, Kim HY, Kim HJ, et al. Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) prevents dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress in the ageing process. Br J Nutr. 2007;97(6):1187-1195.
- Zhong ZG, Wu DP, Huang JL, et al. A isolated from the acetic ether part of the leaves of Phyllanthus emblica L. induces apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7404 cells by up-regulation of Bax expression and down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Jan 27;133(2):765-72.
- Piva R, Penolazzi L, Borgatti M, et al. Apoptosis of human primary osteoclasts treated with molecules targeting nuclear factor-kappaB. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009 Aug;1171:448-56.
- Akhtar MS, Ramzan A, Ali A, Ahmad M. Effect of Amla fruit (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) on blood glucose and lipid profile of normal subjects and type 2 diabetic patients. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2011 Sep;62(6):609-16.
Consumer Information
How It Works
Bottom Line: Emblica officinalis has not been shown to treat cancer in humans.
Emblica officinalis is commonly used in Ayurveda, the traditional medicinal system of India, for various ailments including diarrhea, jaundice, headaches, inflammation, and as a tonic. It is also one of the constituents of the Ayurvedic formulation, Triphala. All parts of the tree including the dried and fresh fruits, seeds, leaves, root bark, and flowers are used. Laboratory studies and studies done in animals suggest that E. officinalis has antioxidant, antibacterial, liver protective, cardioprotective, antiulcer, antitumor, antidiabetic properties. Small studies in humans show that it has antioxidant and lipid-lowering effects.
Purported Uses
- Diabetes
Laboratory studies have shown that E. officinalis can lower blood sugar. - Cancer
Studies in mice that indicate that E. officinalis may inhibit tumor growth. However, human studies are needed in order to confirm this effect. - Cardioprotective Effects
Lab studies suggest protective effects against doxorubicin toxicity. However, human data are lacking. - Diarrhea
There is no scientific evidence to support this use - Jaundice
Used in traditional medicine for jaundice, but clinical data are lacking. - Headaches
Animal studies suggest E. officinalis can reduce fever and pain. Human studies have not been done. - Inflammation
E. officinalis was shown to reduce inflammation in lab studies. Human data are lacking. - Chronic ulcers
Traditional use and results from lab studies support this use. - Hyperlipidemia
Data from lab studies and a small human study indicate hyperlipidemic effects. More studies are needed.
Research Evidence
Oxidative stress:
This study was done to determine whether an E. officinalis extract supplement can reduce oxidative stress. Seventeen uremic patients were enrolled and received E. officinalis supplements for 4 months. Researchers found that the supplements reduced a plasma oxidative marker and increased plasma total antioxidant status. They concluded that E. officinalis supplementation may decrease oxidative stress in uremic patients.
Side Effects
Adverse effects are rare.
Last updated: October 12, 2012
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