INTRODUCTION:

Plants have formed the basis of sophisticated traditional medicine system and natural product make excellent lead to for a new drug development [1]. In worldwide approximately 80% of world Inhabitants lean on traditional medicine for their primary health care and play an important role in health care system of remaining 20% of population [2]. The WHO is encouraging, promoting and facilitating the effective use of herbal medicine for the developing countries health program [3]. The human race started using plants and plant products successfully as a source for treatment of disease and injuries as effective therapeutic tool from the early days of civilization to morden age [4,5]

Medicinal plants are the “local heritage with global importance” playing a vital role in world health care system for developing countrie [5]. Emblica officinalis (Euphorbiaceae) is a valuable tree known for its medicinal as well as pharmacological importance for centuries.

VERNACULAR NAMES [6]:

Eng.-Emblicmyrobalan, Indian gooseberry.

Hindi- Amlaki, Amalak, Amvala, Aonla, Amla.

Beng.-Amla, Amlaki, Ambolati, Amulati.

Guj.-Bhosa, Amla, Ambala.

Kan.-Nellka, Nelli, Nilika.

Mal.-Nellimaram, Nellikka, Boa-malacca.

Mar.-Avala.

Punj.-Ambal, Ambli, Amla.

Tam.-Nelli, Nelli-kai, Toppi.

Tel.-Usirikaya, Amalakamu, Usereki, Wusheriko, Osirka, Usri, Usirika.

Arab- Amlaj.

Assam- Amluki, Sohmyrlain.

N.W.P.-Amla, Aoula.

Oriya- Gondhona, Amlaki, Ohalu.

Pers.-Amuleh, Amelah.

Santhal- Meral.

Botanical Description:

Emblica officinalis is a tree of small or moderate size with a greenish-grey bark and greenish-yellow flowers, formed in axillary clusters. Branchlets are alternate superposed and they all face in one plane. Length of the branchlets is up to 40 cm and more than 100 leaves are in arranged in the branchlets. Barks are brown in color and peels into small irregular ﬂake. The miniature, oblong leaves, only 3 mm wide and 1.25–2 cm long, distichously disposed on branchlets, give a misleading impression of ﬁnely pinnate foliage. The feathery leaves are linear-oblong, with a rounded base and obtuse or acute apex. It has axillary cymes, densely fascicled along the leaf bearing branchlets, often on the naked portion below the leaves. Style arms are dichotomously bifid, flat and re-curved greenish, and sparsely puberulus. The arms from the tip of the ovary measure about 5–7 mm long. The fruit diameter ranges between 1.8 and 2.5 cm. Groove markings along the septa are very shallow. The tender fruits are green, fleshy, globose and shining, and change to light yellow or brick-red when mature.[7- a, b, c, d]

Ayurvedic actions and uses:

The root bark is astringent and is useful in ulcerative stomatitis and gastric ulcer. The bark is astringent and useful in gonorrhoea, jaundice, diarrhoea and myalgia. The flowers are cooling and aperient. The leaves are useful in conjunctivitis, inflammation, dyspepsia, diarrhoea and dysentery. The fruits are astringent, cooling, anodyne, carminative, digestive, stomachic, laxative, alterant, alexeteric, aphrodisiac, diuretic, antipyretic, tonic and trichogenous. They are useful in diabetes, cough, asthma, bronchitis, headache, ophthalmic disorders, dyspepsia, colic, flatulence, hyperacidity, peptic ulcer, erysipelas, skin diseases, leprosy, haematemesis, inflammations, anaemia, emaciation, hepatic disorders, jaundice, strangury, diarrhoea, dysentery, intrinsic haemorrhages, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, cardiac disorders, intermittent fevers and greyness of hair. Seeds are reported to be useful in asthma, bronchitis and biliousness [8].

Pharmacological properties:

Anti Dyslipidemic Activity:

Cu2+induced LDL oxidation and cholesterol fed rats were used to investigate the effects of Amla on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and cholesterol levels in vitro and in vivo. It was concluded that Amla may be effective for hypercholesterolemia and prevention of atherosclerosis [23]. Emblica officinalis and Mangifera indica contains flavanoids which reduce the levels of lipid in serum and tissues of rats induced hyper lipidemia. Both cause the degradation and elimination of cholesterol [24].

Anti diabetic Activity:

Oral administration of the extracts (100 mg/kg body weight) reduced the blood sugar level in normal and in alloxan (120 mg/kg) diabetic rats significantly within 4 hours. Emblica officinalis (EO) and an enriched fraction of its tannoids are effective in delaying development of diabetic cataract in rats [9].

Aldose reductase (AR) has its involvement in the development of secondary complications of diabetes including cataract. EO is proved as an important inhibitor of AR. Exploring the therapeutic value of natural ingredients that people can incorporate into everyday life may be an effective approach in the management of diabetic complications [10].

Antipyretic and Analgesic Activities:

Extracts of Emblica officinalis fruits possess potent anti-pyretic and analgesic activities. A single oral dose of ethanolic extract and aqueous extract (500 mg/kg) showed significant reduction in hyperthermia in rats induced by brewer's yeast. Both of these extracts elicited pronounced inhibitory effect on acetic acid-induced writhing response in mice in the analgesic test [11,12].

Immunomodulatory Activity:

Albino rats were used to assess the immunomodulatory activities of Triphala on various neutrophil functions like adherence, phagocytic index, avidity index and nitro blue tetrazolium. Oral administration of Triphala appears to stimulate the neutrophil functions in the immunized rats and stress induced suppression in the neutrophil functions were significantly prevented by Triphala [13].

Antioxidant activity:

Triphala administered orally about 1g/kg/animal body weight for 48 days significantly prevented cold stress-induced behavioral and biochemical abnormalities in albino rats. Thus, triphala supplementation can be regarded as a protective drug against stress [14]. Vitamin C in Emblica officinalis accounts for approximately 45-70% of the antioxidant activity [15].

Cytoprotective, Antitussive, Gastroprotective Activities:

EO has been reported for its cytoprotective and immune modulating properties against chromium (VI) induced oxidative damage. It inhibited chromium induced immune suppression and restored gamma-IFN production by macrophages and phagocytosis [16]. EO was tested for its antitussive activity in conscious cats by mechanical stimulation of the laryngopharyngeal and tracheobronchial mucous areas of airways. Antitussive activity of EO was more effective than the non-narcotic antitussive agent dropropizine but less effective than shown by the classical narcotic antitussive drug codeine. It is supposed that the dry extract of EO exhibit the antitussive activity not only dueto antiphlogistic, antispasmolytic and antioxidant efficacy effects, but also to its effect on mucus secretion in the airways [17]. EO (ethanolic extract) was investigated for its antisecretory and antiulcer activities using various experimental models in rats, including pylorus ligation Shay rats, indomethacin, hypothermic restraint stress induced gastric ulcer and necrotizing agents. It was then reported that Amla extract exhibit antisecretory, cytoprotective and antiulcer properties [18].

Anticanceractivity:

Triphala has been reported to exibitchemo preventive potential. The presence of Triphala in diet had significantly lowered the benzo (a) pyrene [B(a)P] induced for estomach papillomagenesis in mice. It was more effective in reducing tumor incidences compared to its individual constituents. Triphala also significantly increased the antioxidant status of animals which might have contributed to the chemoprevention [6]. The breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Lipid-metabolizing enzymes, lipids and lipoproteins have been associated with the risk of breast cancer. Kalpaamruthaa (KA) is a modified Siddha preparation containing EO, Semecarpus anacardium (SA and honey. The elevated levels of free cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and free fatty acids and decreased levels of ester cholesterol in plasma, kidney and liver found in cancer suffering animals were reverted back to near normal levels on treatment with

KA and SA [19].

Memory Enhancingactivity:

Amlachurna produced a dose-dependent improvement in memory of young and aged rats. It reversed the amnesia induced by scopolamine and diazepam. Amlachurna may prove to be a useful remedy for the management of Alzheimer's disease due to its multifarious beneficial effects such as memory improvement and reversal of memory deficits [20].

Antimicrobial and Antimutagenicity Activities:

EO has been reported for the antimicrobial activities [21]. The plant have been reported to posses potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, K. ozaenae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. paratyphi A, S. paratyphi B and Serratiamarcescens [22]. Water, chloroform and acetone extracts of Triphala were investigated to evaluate an antimutagenic effect using an Ames histidine reversion assay having TA98 and TA100 tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium against the direct-acting mutagens, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD), sodium azide and the indirect-acting promutagen, 2-aminofluorene (2AF), in the presence of phenobarbitone-induced rat hepatic S9. The results with chloroform and acetone extracts showed inhibition of mutagenicity induced by both direct and S9-dependent mutagens [23].

Anti-ulcer Activities:

Methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis was studied against ulcer. Emblica officinalis had significant ulcer protective and healing effects and this might be due to its effects both on offensive and defensive mucosal factors [24].

Cardio-protective Activity:

The effects of chronic oral administration of fresh fruit homogenate of Amla on myocardial antioxidant system and oxidative stress induced by ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI) were investigated on heart in rats. Chronic Emblica officinalis administration produces myocardial adaptation by augmenting endogenous antioxidants and protects rat hearts from oxidative stress associated with IRI [25].

Anti Snake Venom Activity:

EO and Vitex negundo were explored for the first time for antisnake venom activity. Najakaouthia and Viperarussellii venom was antagonized by the plant extracts significantly both in vivo and in vitro studies. V. russellii venom-induced coagulant, haemorrhage defibrinogenating and inflammatory activities were significantly neutralized by both plant extracts. No precipitating bands were formed between the snake venom and plant extract which confirmed that the plant extracts possess potent snake venom neutralizing capacity and need further investigation [26].

Laxative Activity:

The fresh ripe fruits are used extensively in India as a laxative, and one or two fruits being sufficient for a single dose. They have been exported to Europe, preserved in sugar, and are valued as a pleasant laxative for children and made into a confection consisting of the pulp of the de-seeded fruit. It also possesses prokinetic and laxative activities in mice along with spasmodic effect in the isolated tissues of guinea pig and rabbit, and this action is mediated partially through activation of muscarinic receptors, suggesting a rationale for the medicinal use of P. emblica fruits in indigestion and constipation.[27]

HepatoprotectiveActivity:

Emblica officinalis and its flavonoid quercetin were found to be hepatoprotective against acetaminophen-induced liver damage in Albino rats and mice. The research results indicated that the possible mechanism of Emblica officinalis for hepatoprotective activity is in decreasing glutathione depletion and preventing stimulation of cytochrome P450. Since quercetin alone was more effective than the Emblica officinalis extract, it is thought to be the active principle. Toxic effects induced by lead nitrate and aluminum sulphate were also counteracted by the administration of Emblica officinalis extract and ascorbic acid in albino rats. It is also reported that Emblica officinalis has strong hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage.[28,29]

AntiproliferativeActivity:

The antiproliferative activity of phenolic compounds obtained from Emblica officinalis was determined by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MMT) assay, using three tumor cell lines, MK-1, HeLa, and B16F10 cells. All the phenolic compounds showed strong inhibition againstB16F10 cell growth at a concentration of less than 68 mg/mL compared to HeLa and MK-1 cell growth. Norsesquiterpenoid glycosides, phyllemblicins B and C, exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the three tumor cell lines in the order of B16F10 >HeLa>MK-1. Compounds with a galloyl or pyrogalloyl moiety showed higher activity than the flavonoid. The results suggest that such compounds are worthy of consideration as a potential cancer chemopreventive agent.[30]

Antidiarrheal Activity:

In Ayurvedic medicine, fruit decoction of Emblica officinalis is mixed with sour milk and given in cases of dysentery. Infusion of the leaves with fenugreek seed is given for chronic diarrhea. Recent report suggest that the Emblica officinalis fruit extract possesses antidiarrheal and spasmolytic activities, mediated possibly through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and Ca2+ channels, thus explaining its medicinal use in diarrhea.[31]

Neuroprotective Activity:

Pretreatment with hydroalcoholic extract of E. officinalis fruit (500 and 700 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.001) increased the latency of seizures as compared with the vehicle-treated group. It also significantly prevented the increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances levels and ameliorated the fall in glutathione. Furthermore, E. officinalis dose dependently attenuated the kainic acid-induced increase in the TNF-α level in the brain and significantly improved the cognitive deficit, as evidenced by increased latency in passive avoidance task.[32]

Miscellaneous Activities:

Beside above discussed therapeutic potentials, Emblica officinalis is also reported to have chondro protective effects in osteoarthritis by significantly inhibiting the activities of hyaluronidase and collagenase type 2 enzymes.[33] In Ayurveda, Emblica officinalis is believed to enhances food absorption and regulates the elimination, balances the acidity of the stomach, fortifies the liver, nourishes the brain and mental functioning, supports the heart and strengthens the lungs, enhances the fertility, promotes the urination, moisturizes the skin, promotes the hair growth and prevent hair graying, cools the body and flushes out the toxins, enhances vitality and immunity, strengthens the eyes, improves muscle tone, etc.[34] Many of these therapeutic potentials of Emblica officinalis described in Ayurveda are yet to be explored scientifically.

CONCLUSION:

In contemporary times, classical knowledge of medical profession has been evinced and deliberated to have aggrandized by the prompt use of indispensable herbal drugs having sundry pharmacological properties, one among is Emblica officinalis being prescribed rampantly. Emblica officinalis has sundry efficacious properties to possess as anti – oxidant, Immunomodulator Activities along with many other properties. Though Research in medicinal plants has gained much more momentum, there is expeditious exigencyto delve into its medicinal values at molecular level with the succor of techniques of biotechnology.

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Received on 11.10.2017 Modified on 21.11.2017

Res. J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics.2017; 9(4): 202-206.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5836.2017.00036.2