|
Introduction
Amla is one of the most celebrated herbs in
the Indian traditional medicine system, Ayurveda. Amla's traditional
uses include as a laxative, eye wash, appetite stimulant, restorative
tonic, and to treat anorexia, indigestion, diarrhea, anemia, and
jaundice. Amla is becoming increasingly well known for its unusually
high levels of Vitamin C, which is resistant to storage and heat
damage due to cooking.
Origin
It is found natively in India. Indian gooseberry has been used
as valuable ingredient of various medicines in India and abroad.
Chemical
composition / key active constituents
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 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 ppm; zinc 4 ppm; and copper,
3 ppm.
Key Active Constituents
Emblicanin A&B, Puniglucanin, Pedunculagin,
2-keto-gluconolactone (Vitamin-C equivalents). Ellagic acid,
Hexahydroxy-diphenic acid and conjugates.
 |
Pharmacology
Emblica officinalis is effective in the treatment of amlapitta
[peptic ulcer]and in dyspepsia. The fruits exhibit hypolipiadaemic
and antiatherosclerotic effects in rabbits & rats. The fruit
extract has antimutagenic activity on certain directly acting
mutagens in some strains of Salmonella typhimurium.The extract
of amla also has antimicrobial properties. Amlaki is an antioxidant
with free radical scavenging properties which may be due to
the presence of high levels of super oxide dismutase.
Remedies
Indian Gooseberry or Amla is used for
all Pitta diseases, all obstinate urinary conditions, anemia,
biliousness, bleeding, colitis, constipation, convalescence
from fever, cough, diabetes, gastritis, gout, hepatitis, hemorrhoids,
liver weakness, to relieve stress ,osteoporosis, palpitation,
spleen weakness, tissue deficiency, vertigo rebuilds blood,
bones, cells, and tissues. It increases red blood cell count
and regulates blood sugar; heart tonic, cleanses mouth, stops
gum bleeding, stops stomach and colon inflammation; cleanses
intestines, strengthens teeth, aids eyesight, worms, acidity,
eye and lung inflammations, ulcerations, G.I. disorders, painful
urination, and internal bleeding.
Dosage
Powder
:- 3-6 gm
Decoction :- ( 5 g boiled in 8 ml water till 20 ml left) twice
daily after meals.
| References:
|
| |
CAS,
IP, Ayurveda book etc. |
| 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.1941, 1, 307; Srinivasan, loc. cit. |
| 8 |
Chawla
et. al., 1982, Indian J. Med. Res. 76 (Suppl.), 95-98. |
|
