amla

Latin Name and Speciation: Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (syn Phyllanthus emblica Linn.)

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Common Names:
Amalik (Sanskrit), amla (Hindi), (German) emblic, Indian gooseberry (English), mirabolano emblico (Italian) amara
(Japanese), Phyllanthe emblic (French), nellikai (Malaysian), makarm pom (Thai)

Part Used: Fruit and leaves

General Description: A deciduous tree native to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, and Malaysia growing to 30 m in
height with thin, spreading branches and tiny greenish yellow flowers in dense clusters. The leaves are pinnate, oblong
and small, and appear on branchlets. The bark is grayish-green or a shiny grayish-brown and peels off in flakes. The
fruits are about the size of grapes (15-20 mm long and 18-25 mm wide) and are smooth, spherical and translucent.
They show 6 faint ridges in the form of lines and when ripe turn a yellowish-brown.

Traditional Uses: Although widely used in jams, relishes, and candied confections, the fruits of amla are the most
commonly used Ayurvedic botanical and are classed among the rasayana: An agent or process traditionally used to
prevent disease and counteract the aging process. Indian uses of amla are found in the treatment of scurvy,
constipation, diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhage,2 and pancreatic diseases. The ancient Ayurvedic formula, "triphala,"
consists of equal parts of the dried fruits with those of bedda nut (Terminalia bellerica) and Indian gall nut (T. chebula).
Triphala is traditionally used in the treatment ofheart disease and as a blood purifier. The leaves of amla are combined
with fenugreek seeds in the treatment of indigestion, dysentery or diarrhea, and a leaf decoction is used in treating
fever.

Composition / Actives:
Fruit: Ellagitannins (chebulagic acid, phyllanemblinin C, geraniin); hydrolysable tannins (emblicanin A and B),
pedunculagin, punigluconin, gallic acid (5%), ellagic acid, tannin (28%) vitamin C (3.25% w/w by HPLC in extract of
fresh fruit), and alkaloids (phyllanthine, phyllantidine). Leaves: Tannin (22%), alkaloids (phyllanthine, phyllantidine),
and ellagic, gallic, chebulinic, chebulic, chebulagic, and amlaic acid (gallotannin).

Regulatory Status
Has been sold freely in the U.S. Regulated as a dietary supplement and food.

Toxicity
No known toxicity.