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Ayurvedic
Medicine |
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Products
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Amalaki
The fruit is acrid, cooling, refrigerant,
diuretic and laxative. The dried fruit is useful in hemorrhage,
diarrhea and dysentery.
In combination with
iron, it is used as
a remedy for anemia, jaundice and dyspepsia. Amla fruits are
anabolic, anti-bacterial and resistance building. They possess
expectorant, cardiotonic,
antipyretic, antioxidative,
antiviral and anti-emetic activities. They are also used in the
treatment of leucorrhea and
atherosclerosis.
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Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
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Emblica
officinalis
Gaertn.
/
Phyllanthus
emblica
Linn. (Euphorbiaceae) |
Indian
Gooseberry, Emblic
Myrobalan
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Amalaki,
Dhatriphala |
Amla,
Aovla |
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Habitat |
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The tree is commonly found in the mixed
deciduous forests of India ascending to 4,500 ft. in the
hills. |
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Morphology Description (Habit) |
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E.officinalis
is a small or medium-sized deciduous tree with smooth, greenish
grey, exfoliating bark. The leaves are feathery with small
narrowly oblong, pinnately arranged
leaflets. The fruits are depressed, globose,
fleshy and obscurely 6-lobed, containing 6
trigonous seeds. |
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Principal
Constituents |
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Amla is highly nutritious and is an important
dietary source of
Vitamin C, minerals and amino acids. The
edible fruit tissue contains protein concentration 3-fold and
ascorbic acid concentration 160-fold compared to that of the
apple. The fruit also contains considerably higher concentration
of most minerals and amino acids than apples.
Glutamic acid,
proline, aspartic acid, alanine,
and lysine are 29.6, 14.6, 8.1, 5.4 and 5.3% respectively of the
total amino acids. The pulpy portion of fruit, dried at 100- and
freed from the nuts contains: gallic
acid 1.32%, tannin, sugar 36.10%; gum 13.75%; albumin 13.08%;
crude cellulose 17.08%; mineral matter 4.12% and moisture 3.83%.
Amla fruit ash contains chromium, 2.5 ;
zinc, 4; and copper, 3 ppm. Presence of chromium is of
therapeutic value in diabetes. Fruit also contains
phyllemblin and
curcuminoides. The fruit contained 482.14 units of
superoxide dismutase/g fresh weight, and exhibited
antisenescent activity. The seed oil
contains 64.8% linolenic acid and
closely resembles linseed oil1.
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Pharmacology |
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Aqueous extracts of E.
officinalis fruit and ascorbic acid equivalent to
that in the fruit extract were fed to albino mice for 7
consecutive days, followed by
intraperitoneal injection of Pb(NO3)2
or Al2(SO4)3.18H2O. The ability of the crude fruit extract and
ascorbic acid to counteract the toxic effects induced by these
metal salts in hepatic and renal tissues of the animals
were studied.
Histopathological observations revealed that both the
fruit extract and ascorbic acid could prevent the toxic effects
induced by both metals, but the extract was more effective than
ascorbic acid alone2. Feeding of Amla to the
hypercholesterolemic rabbits for 12
weeks showed a two pronged effect, its feeding increased the
lipid mobilization and catabolism and retarded the deposition of
lipids in the extrahepatic tissues.
Feeding of E. officinalis
initially raised the plasma lipids and cholesterol levels but by
the end of 12 weeks, their levels were reduced significantly
below the levels in the control group. Lipid levels in the liver
were also significantly lowered. Though lipid levels in the
aorta increased during this period the increase was much less in Amla fed animals as compared to the control group. The degree of
atherosclerosis at the end of 12 weeks of Amla feeding was much
lower when compared to the control group3.
The relative effects of a crude aqueous extract
from the fruit and an equivalent amount of synthetic ascorbic
acid (vitamin C) in reducing the
clastogenic action of cesium chloride (CsCl)
in vivo on mice bone marrow cells were compared.
CsCl-induced chromosomal aberrations
were observed in the mice 24 hours after exposure in frequencies
that were directly proportional to the dose administered even
after treatment for seven days. On the other hand, oral
administration of either ascorbic acid or E.
officinalis extract for seven
days prior to exposure to CsCl for
24 hours reduced the frequency of chromosomal aberrations. This
protective action of orally-administered E.
officinalis extract against
damage induced by CsCl has been
reported to be of considerable importance in view of the
possible entry of Cs. into edible plants from soil and
subsequently into the food chain following radioactive fallout4.
E.
officinalis
juice was administered at a dose of 5ml/kg body weight per
rabbit per day for 60 days. Serum cholesterol, TG, phospholipid
and LDL levels were lowered by 82 percent, 66 percent, 77
percent and 90 percent, respectively. Similarly, the tissue
lipid levels showed a significant reduction following E.
officinalis juice
administration. Aortic plaques were regressed. E.
officinalis juice treated
rabbits excreted more cholesterol and phospholipids, suggesting
that the mode of absorption was affected. E.
officinalis juice is an
effective hypolipidemic agent and
can be used as a pharmaceutical tool in
hyperlipidaemic subjects5.
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Clinical Studies
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Clinical studies were conducted to investigate
the effect of Amalaki in amla pitta
(gastritis syndrome). Amalaki churna
was given in 20 cases in a dose of 3g.,
thrice a day for seven days. The drug was found effective in 85
per cent of cases. Cases of
hyperchlorhydria with burning sensation in abdominal and
cardiac regions and epigastric pain
were benefited6.
The fruit was
used successfully in the treatment of human scurvy in the
Hissar famine of 1939-407.
The Therapeutic efficacy of Amalaki in cases of dyspepsia was
evaluated and the results clearly indicate the efficacy of
E.o. in relieving the dyspeptic
symptoms as well as in promoting healing of ulcers8.
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Indications |
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The fruit is acrid, cooling, refrigerant,
diuretic and laxative. The dried fruit is useful in hemorrhage,
diarrhea and dysentery. In combination with
iron, it is used as
a remedy for anemia, jaundice and dyspepsia. Amla fruits are
anabolic, anti-bacterial and resistance building. They possess
expectorant, cardiotonic,
antipyretic, antioxidative,
antiviral and anti-emetic activities. They are also used in the
treatment of leucorrhea and
atherosclerosis.
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References |
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1.
Chem
Abstr
, 1992, 116, 19982, 127273; 1993, 119, 103470; 1989, 110,
73906; Vohora, Indian Drugs, 1989,
26(10), 526; Janjua,
Hamdard, 1991, 34(2), 104;
Yaqeenudin et. al.,
Pakist J Sci
Ind Res,
1990, 33, 268.
2.
Roy, A.K. et.
al., Int. J.of
Pharmacog.,
1991, v. 29(2), 117-126.
3.
Mand,
J.K. et. al., J. Res.
Edu. in
Ind.Med., 1991, v., 10(2), 1-7.
4.
Ghosh,
A. et. al., Int. J. of
Pharmacog.,
1993, v. 31(2), 116-120.
5.
Mathur,
R. et. al., J. of
Ethnopharmacol.,
1996, v., 50(2), 61-68.
6.
Singh, B.N. and Sharma, P.V.,
J.Res. Ind. Med., 1971, 5, 223.
7.
Ramaswamy,
Minor Forest Products, Mysore, 1945,55;
Damodaran & Nair,
Biochem. J., 1936, 30, 1014;
Giri, Indian J. med. Res., 1939, 27,
429; Mitra &
Ghosh,Ann.
biochem. exp. Med., 1942, 2, 205;
Roy & Rudra,
ibid., 1941, 1, 307; Srinivasan,
loc. cit.
8.
Chawla
et. al., 1982,
Indian J. Med. Res. 76 (Suppl.),
95-98. |
Vernacular names:
Sanskrit - Amalaki; Hindi - Amla; English - Emblic myrobalan; Bengali -
Amlaki; Tamil - Nelli; Unani - Aamlah; Marathi - Avala; Chinese - An
mole; German - Amla; Japanese - Amara
Parts Used:
Dried fruit, ripe fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers. Each part
has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way
for maximum benefits. Amalaki fruit requires a meticulous 21-step
process at low heat to maintain potency of the vitamins and minerals as
well as the biological intelligence of this remarkable plant.
Traditional Ayurvedic Uses:
Balances all three Doshas (Vata,
Pitta, Kapha), especially
Pitta.
It
contains five of the six tastes, which a very rare and valuable property
because it indicates how this one herb balances all the laws of nature
operating in the mind and body.
Because of its well-known rejuvenate and revitalizing properties,
Amalaki is a powerful Rasayana (longevity enhancer) all by itself. It
therefore is often used by itself even in the Ayurveda health system,
which usually recommends using herbs only in expert combinations. As a
Rasayana, Amalaki helps to culture the full potential of the mind and
body.
It is
the most concentrated source of
vitamin C in the plant kingdom, and the
C has a special form that makes it very easy for the human body to
assimilate. In addition to this, the
vitamin C in Amalaki fruit is
precisely bonded with tannins that protect it from degradation from heat
and light.
Amalaki is well-known for its ability to boost bioavailaibity and
absorption of calcium for healthier bones, teeth, hair and nails.
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It also improves assimilation of
iron for healthy blood.
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It is especially nourishing for the eyes, heart, and digestion.
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Amalaki is also extremely effective for balancing stomach acids.
Amalaki has a special action to promote strength and lean muscle mass
when used with a diet rich in protein and quality nutrients.
It is
most commonly seen along with Bibhitaki and Haritaki as an ingredient in
the popular Ayurvedic formula known as Triphala, which aids digestion
and nourishes all the bodily tissues (the Dhatus). Triphala also acts as
a laxative, helps scrub the colon, and supports the action of other
ingredients in any well-balanced formula.
Combinations are Best
The
ayurvedic physicians of Ayurveda do not recommend the use of single
herbs for self-care due to several important reasons (see the index page
of the ayurvedic herb section for details).
One of
the specialties of Ayurveda is the science of herb combining that has
been perfected over thousands of years of clinical practice. From this
ayurvedic perspective, the study of herbs from scientific research which
is based on single ingredient formulas is not very practical. This is
because an herb can give a number of different effects depending on the
other herbs it is combined with as well as a number of other factors
such as dosage, how the herb was processed, etc. If one focuses just on
the results of a study based on one ingredient, while it may be
interesting, it does not give the full insight into the complete range
of effects available from that particular herb.
Ayurvedic
Energetics:
Rasa:
sweet, sour, pungent, bitter, astringent
Veerya: cooling
Vipaka: sweet
Guna: light, dry
Doshas:
Vata / Pitta /
Kapha -
Pharmacological
Action:
fruit: cooling, laxative, stomachic, tonic, diuretic
Clinical Research:
The fruit is one of the richest natural sources of
vitamin C ,
containing up to 720 mg/100g of fresh pulp and 921 mg/100cc of pressed
juice. This is approximately 20 times the
vitamin C content of an
orange. Amalaki fruit has, in fact, been used successfully to treat
human scurvy. It is also effective in the treatment of amla pitta (peptic
ulcer) , as well as in non-ulcer dyspepsia. The
alcoholic extract
(1gm/kg) given to isoprotenol-pretreated rats resulted in an increase in
cardiac glycogen and a decrease in serum LDH, suggesting a
cardioprotective action. It also demonstrated a statistically
significant reduction in serum cholesterol levels and an antiatherogenic
effect in rabbits.
Traditional
Uses: The fruit is commonly used in the treatment of burning
sensation anywhere in the body, anorexia,
constipation, urinary
discharges, inflammatory bowels,
cough,
hemorrhoids,
fever, thirst, and
toxicity of the blood. The juice of the fresh bark mixed with honey and
turmeric is given in gonorrhea. The leaf infusion with fenugreek seeds
is given in chronic diarrhea. Acute bacillary dysentery may be treated
with a syrup of amalaki and lemon juice. The exudation from incisions
made into the fruit is used as a collyrium in inflammatory eye
conditions; the seeds are powdered and used to treat asthma,
bronchitis,
and biliousness. It is an ingredient in several important medicinal
preparations including Triphala ("three fruits"), a laxative and
carminative, and the famous Chyvanaprash, a general tonic for people of
all ages which improves mental and physical well-being.
Indications:
dyspepsia,
peptic ulcer, general debility,
constipation, hypercholesterolemia,
fever.
Formulations and
Dosage:
infusion: 20-30 ml bid
powder: 2-5 gm bid
Chyavanaprash: 8-12 gm qd or bid
Triphala: 2 gm bid
Ind J Med Res,
429, 1939
Srinivasan, M. Indian Gooseberry, Nature, 153:684, 1944
Dhar, dc, Srivastva, DL, and Srinivasaya, M., Studies on E.
officinalis.1.Chromatographic study of some constituents of Amla, J Sci
Ind Res., Sec C 15:205, 1956
Singh, BN and Sharma, PV, Effect of amalaki on amla pitta, J Res Ind Med
5 (2):223-230, 1971.
Banu, N., Patel, V., et al, Role of amalaki rasayana in experimental peptic ulcer, J Res Edn Ind Med 1(1): 29-34, 1982 Chawla, YK, Dubey, P.,
Singh, R., et al., Treatment of dyspepsia with amalaki (Emblica
officinalis), an ayurvedic drug, Vagbhata 5(3): 24-26, 1987.
Tana, M. et al., Ind J Exp Biol 15:485, 1977.
Thakar, CP and Mandal, K., Effect of Emblica officinalis in
cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits, Ind J Med Res,
79:142-146, 1984.
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