Amla

HABITAT

Amla is the medium size deciduous plant. It grows to the height of 8 -18 meter. Amla can grow in light as well as the heavy soils. It is planted through the deciduous of tropical India and on the hill slopes up to 2000 meter. Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh are preferable subtropical area for cultivation of amla.

INTRODUCTION

Amla (Indian gooseberries) has been used for thousands of years for its nourishing, nutrient-rich properties. It is also one of the most popular substances found in Ayurvedic medicine. Amla is world-renowned for offering multiple health benefits. The fruit is extremely rich in Vitamin C, iron, and calcium.

Amla enhances food absorption, balances stomach acids, fortifies the liver, nourishes the brain and mental functioning, and supports the heart. It also strengthens the lungs, regulates elimination of free radicals, enhances fertility, helps the urinary system, improves skin quality, and promotes healthier hair.

BENEFITS

Increases Immunity: Multiple studies have shown that amla helps in increasing white blood cell counts and strengthen immunity through its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Antioxidant: Amla has one of the highest levels of antioxidants found in any whole food. Not only do antioxidants slow down aging, but they are also highly effective against free radicals. Since free radicals can damage a number of important parts of cells like proteins, cell membranes, and DNA, antioxidant rich Amla is a great Ayurvedic supplement which can easily combat the negative effects of free radicals on the body.

Anti-Aging: Vitamin C and antioxidant property of Amla help to remove free radicals which are main cause of signs of aging (wrinkles, age spots).

Anti-Diabetic: Amla berry is cardio protective in diabetes, as well as protective of kidney function. In a 2011 study, diabetes was induced in laboratory animals, and those treated with Amla berry extract did not have an increase in blood glucose or disturbed lipid profiles. Antioxidant levels in the heart were protected.

Anaemia: Vitamin C content of amla content helps in the absorption of Iron. So, it is a natural cure for Anaemia. It is also a solution for other pitta related digestive problems.

Nourishes Skin, Hair, and Eye: Vitamin C rich Amla helps collagen perform in the right way, thus improving the skin quality and making it tighter. It cleanses toxins, and boost immunity of the skin and protect against bacterial infections thereby, improves complexion and removes wrinkles. Vitamin A and carotene content of amla good for vision. It is advantageous in treatment of conjunctivitis, night blindness and glaucoma.

Protection from Cancer: Tannins in Amla berry are cytotoxic to human oral squamous cell cancer lines, as well as to salivary gland tumour cell lines, but nontoxic to healthy fibroblasts from gingival (gum) tissue.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

The tannins of amla like emblicanin-A, emblicanin-B, punigluconin and pedunculagin are reported to provide protection against oxygen radical included haemolysis of rat peripheral blood erythrocytes. The mechanism behind antioxidant activity is due to the Free radical scavenging, strengthening of endogenous antioxidant defence enzymes, recycling of sugar moiety and conversion of the polyphenol into medium and high molecular weight tannins. The powerful antioxidant Ellagic acid, present in Amla, can inhibit mutations in genes and repairs the chromosomal abnormalities. The main mechanism behind its anticancer activity is by enhancing Natural Killer (NK) cell activity in various tumour cells. Anti-aging property by promoting procollagen production and inhibits MMP-1 in human skin fibroblasts.

CLINICAL STUDIES & REFERENCES

Snehal S Patel, Ramesh K Goyal, Prevention of diabetes-induced myocardial dysfunction in rats using the juice of the Emblica officinalis fruit, Exp Clin Cardiol. Fall 2011;16(3):87-91.
Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga, Jason Jerome Dsouza, “Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn), a wonder berry in the treatment and prevention of cancer”. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2011 May;20(3):225-39. doi: 10.1097/CEJ.0b013e32834473f4.
Hazra et al., Comparative study of the antioxidant and reactive oxygen species scavenging properties in the extracts of the fruits of Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica and Emblica officinalis BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2010, doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-10-20.
Suresh K, Vasudevan DM, Augmentation of murine natural killer cell and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity activities by Phyllanthus emblica, a new immunomodulator, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 44(1), 1994, 55-60.
FujiiT, Wakaizumi M, Ikami T, Saito M, Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) extract promotes procollagen production and inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human skin fibroblasts, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 119, 2008, 53-57.
Srirama R, Deepak HB, Senthilkumar U, Ravikanth G, Gurumurthy BR, Shivanna MB, Chandrasekaran CV, Agarwal A, Shaanker RU,Hepatoprotective activity of Indian Phyllanthus, Pharmaceutical Biology,50(8), 2012, 948-53.