Nutraceutical and Pharmacological Appraisal of Āmla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.): A Review

Āmla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn, Family: Euphorbiaceae) is a medicinally important plant indigenous to tropical and sub-tropical regions of South-east Asia. The tree is 5-25 metres tall, deciduous, having deltoid-squamiform leaves and bears pale-green globose fruits 2-4 cm in diameter. In Unani medicine, it is widely used in compound formulations or in raw form in many disorders of central nervous system, gastro-intestinal system, skin, hair, general debility etc. In Ayurveda, it is classified as a rasayana, i.e., drugs which promote longevity and delay ageing. Āmla fruit is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C (478.56 mg/ 100 ml), alongwith important constituents such as gallic acid, ellagic acid, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium etc. recent researches on Āmla have revealed the presence of several biologically active substances with scientifically proven effects as anti-oxidant, anti-ageing, immunomodulatory, memory enhancing, protective towards vital organs such as liver, heart kidneys; anti-depressant, anti-cancer and many more beneficial effects. Most of the experiments have been carried out on Āmla fruit and are dose-dependent. Moreover, no toxic effects have been reported in any of the studies. This review focuses on the various biologically active components of Āmla and its relevance in modern pharmacology.