ABSTRACT:
Amla/Amalaki which is commonly known as Indian gooseberry is one of the most important and wonderful fruit in the field of ancient science. This plant contains a wide range of chemical components which are beneficial in the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases. Powerful immune booster Chavanprash contains Amla as a base ingredient. It is considered as Rasayana; a very potent rejuvenator. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, and flavonoids which are decided to be efficient for health. Amla is often used in the form of Triphala, an herbal formulation containing fruits of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellirica. Pharmacological studies revealed its usefulness against many diseases, including diabetes, respiratory disorders, heart diseases, and neurogenic illness.
INTRODUCTION
Amalaki is one of the most important herb and is commonly used in Ayurvedic formulations. It is also considered as the best among the Vayasthapaka [Rejuvenators] drugs. Amalaki is also called Amla, Indian gooseberry and botanically identified as Emblica Officinalis or Phyllanthus Emblica belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It is a moderate tree with subsessile leaves, greenish-yellow flowers, and 6 lobed yellow globose berry fruits, it is one of the three herbs included in Triphala. In the Vedic literature fruits of Amalaki are considered as the best among fruits, though all the sour substances are said to enhance Pitta, this fruit is an exception being Pitta subsiding. The therapeutic and pharmacological properties are similar to Haritaki. Amla is used in hemorrhagic tendency and related diseases, urinary tract diseases w.s.r to glycosuria. It reduces all three dosas.
MORPHOLOGY
It is a moderate-sized tree with greenish-grey or red bark, peeling off in scales growing up to 1400 m.
Leaves: Subsessile, very small of 1cm, simple, distichously close-set, linear-oblong, obtuse but its branches are mistaken for the pinnate leaf.
Flowers: greenish-yellow, densely fascicled along the branchlets, males on slender pedicles, female subsessile.
Fruit: berry, nearly spherical, light greenish-yellow, smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical strips, 6 lobed, 6 trigonous seeds.
Ripening is seen in autumn.
HABITAT
A native of West Asia. Very commonly found in India, grown in semi–arid regions and plains like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Madya Pradesh.
CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Order: Malpighiales
Genus: Phyllanthus
Species: P. emblica
VERNACULAR NAMES
Sanskrti: Amalaki
Hindi: Amla
English: Emblic myrobalan tree/ Indian gooseberry
Telugu: Amalakamu
Kannada: Bettada Nellikayi
Urdu: Anwala
Malayalam: Nelli
Marathi: Anvala
Bengali: Ambolati
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa (Taste) |
Amla Pradhana Pancha Rasa – (Possess 5 Taste; Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Astringent, Pungent) |
Guna (Characteristics) |
Guru (Heaviness), Rooksha (Dry), Sheeta (Cold) |
Virya (Potency) |
Sheeta (Cold) |
Vipaka (Final Taste After Digestion) |
Madhura (Sweet) |
Karma (Action of drug) |
Vayasthapaka (Anti-Aging, Rasayana (Rejuvenating), Caksusya (Good For Eyes), Vrisya (Aphrodisiac). |
EFFECTS ON DOSHAS: TRIDOSHAHARA – Balances all the three Doshas
CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS: Amla contains tannins, alkaloids, and phenols. Fruits have 28% of the total tannins present in the whole plant. Two hydrolyzable tannins Emblicanin A and B present in Amla have anti-oxidant properties, which on hydrolysis gives gallic acid, ellagic acid, and sugar.
Alkaloids- phyllantine, phyllambein
Amino acids- glutamic acid, lysine, cystine
Vitamins- Ascorbic acid
Flavonoids- quercetin, kaempferol
Citric acid.
PART USED
Fruits
DOSAGE
Fresh fruit: 1-2 fruits daily
Amla juice: 5-10 ml
Amla Powder: 3-6 gms
HEALTH BENEFITS
- Amla is enriched with many nutrients which helps you keep fit, healthy, young, and energetic for years.
- Amla has the best healing properties, and is used by many Natural Healers, Ayurveda experts for ages due to its Anti-diabetic, Anti-bacterial, Anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties.
- Amalaki is good source of Vitamin C.
- It rejuvenates all the tissues and helps to build the immunity, boosts the energy and enhances the youthfulness.
- Amla is rich in anti-oxidants, hence helps in detoxification and eliminates the toxins from the body.
- It acts as cardio tonic and helps in healthy circulation of the blood and balances the good cholesterol.
- Amla supports healthy metabolism and supports digestion
- It helps to maintain the blood sugar levels and helpful in managing the diabetes
- Amla is good for eyes and promotes the eyesight.
- Protect cells against free radical damage thus providing antioxidant protection.
- Consumption of 1-2 fruits every day increases immunity.
- Amla oil prevents premature greying of hair.
- Early morning Amla Juice intake is the best home remedy for constipation and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) patients.
RESEARCH WORK
- Antioxidant property
- DPPH radical scavenging, DNA nicking essay with free radical scavenging mechanism.
- Decreased albumin, increased adiponectin levels, and improved glucose level in diabetic rats.
- Anti-aging property: protects the skin from devasting effects of free radicals, nonradicals, and transition metal-induced oxidative stress.
- Cardio-protective property: Emblicanin A and B showed an anti-oxidant effect in vitro and in vivo like ascorbic acid by preventing ischemia- reperfusion induced oxidative stress.
- Anti-inflammatory property: showed a significant result in anti-inflammation activity in both acute as well as a chronic model of inflammation comparable to diclofenac.
- Anti-cancer and immunomodulatory: chemoprevention due to antioxidant activity and immunomodulatory on hepatic activation and detoxifying enzymes.
CONCLUSION
Amla a wonder berry that is used in the treatment and prevention of many health problems is the most important medicinal plant in the Indian traditional system of medicine. Various parts of the plant are used to treat a wide range of diseases, but the most important part is fruit. It contains a large number of tannins and flavonoids which help in preventing innumerable health disorders due to its antioxidant property.
Pharmacological studies revealed anti-cancerous, adaptogenic, neuroprotective and it also reported to possess potent free radical scavenging, anti mutagenic properties which are efficacious in the prevention and treatment of many disorders. It can be used as a food additive, or in neutraceuticals, and also in biopharmaceutical productions.
REFERENCES
- Dr. J. L. N shastri & Dr. Tanuja M. Nesari A text book of dravyaguna vijnyana vol II, chaukambha orientalia, Varanasi.first edition2018, Tpg 670.
- . Bhavaprakasha of bhavamisra commentary by Dr. Bulusu Sitaram,chaukhambha orientalia, Varanasi reprint edition 2015, Tpg 742
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287524229_Current_trends_in_the_research_of_Emblica_officinalis_Amla_A_pharmacological_perspective
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347781400_Amla_Indian_Gooseberry