**7. Amla (***Emblica officinalis***)**

The Amla fruit is a natural gift to humanity (**Figure 10**). Ayurveda and Unani consider it an essential part of their systems with amazing medicinal properties. It is known as Amalaki or Dhatriphala in Sanskrit. In the Ayurvedic literature "Charak Samhita" (500 BC), amla is perhaps the most frequently mentioned herb [65]. Amlaki means sustainer of fruit, or the place where the Goddess of Prosperity resides in Sanskrit.

As it provides so much nourishment to mankind that this tree is worshipped as the Earth Mother in Hindu mythology. In addition to cultivated (gramya), there are

**Figure 10.** *Amla.*

*Vegetable and Herbal Extracts: A Way towards Preventive and Therapeutics Regimen DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.101104*

wild (vanya) varieties of Amla. It is smaller and rougher in wild varieties, whereas cultivated amla is bigger, smoother, and juicier. Its trunk is crooked and its branches tend to spread out in a crooked pattern. It reaches heights of 8 to 18 m. Usually deciduous, small branchlets are glabrous or finely pubescent, 10–20 cm long. It has simple, tightly set leaves that resemble pinnate leaves, which are subsessile and subsedile along branches [65]. Berry harvesting is done in autumn, when the berries reach their mature stage. Despite its fibrous texture, Indian gooseberries have a sharp and bitter flavor and are bitter and astringent [66].

#### **7.1 Phytochemistry**

Approximately 80% of the amla fruit's chemical composition is water. Besides protein, carbohydrate, fiber, and mineral contents, it also contains gallic acid, which is an important polyphenol. Amla contains tannins, alkaloids, and phenols. In the whole plant, 28% of the tannins are present in the fruits. Two of the tannins in the fruit, Emblicanin A and B, when hydrolysed yield gallic acid, ellagic acid and glucose. Phyllaemblic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, pectin, and vitamin C, along with polyphenolic compounds, are abundant in this fruit [67]. Vitamin C is reported to be 20 times as abundant in amla fruit as in orange juice.

Ascorbic acid concentration is 160 times higher in the amla fruit tissue than in an apple. Minerals and amino acids are also found in higher concentrations in the fruit than in apples. The ash from amla fruit contains chromium, zinc, and copper. It has been demonstrated that a wide range of phytochemical components, including terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins, possess useful biological activity. Tannins are abundant in the fruits, leaves, and bark. Ellagic acid and lupeol are found in the root, and leucodelphinidin is found in the bark. Oil is extracted from the seeds (16%) and is brownish-yellow in color. It contains Linolenic Acid (8.8%), Linoleic Acid (44.0%), Oleic Acid (28.4%), Stearic Acid (2.15%), Palmitic Acid (3.0%) and Myristic Acid (1.0%) (**Figure 11**) [68]. It contains a small amount of essential oil, fixed oil, and phosphides in its seeds. It also contains gallic acid, ellagic acid, chebulagic acid and chebulinic acid in their leaves. P. emblica roots provide Phyllaemblic acid, a novel, highly oxygenated norbisabolane.

#### **7.2 Medicinal and nutritional value**

Every part of this plant is useful due to its medicinal properties. E. officinalis is known to have antioxidant, anticancerous, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial properties [69]. The extract of its fruit prevents hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis and several other disorders [70]. It shows strong antioxidant properties similar to ascorbic acid due to the presence of various tannins such as emblicanin A,

**Figure 11.** *Linoleic acid. Oleic acid.*

emblicanin B, punigluconin, gallic acid [71]. It quenches various free radicals such as hydroxyl, superoxide and reduces DPPH free radical by reducing Fe+3 ions [72]. The antioxidative effect of fruit extracts was investigated against alcohol induced toxicity and it was suggested that the efficacy is due to the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, and other ascorbic acid related compounds [73]. It strengthens antioxidant defense system by increasing level of GSH and various antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase and GSH S-transferase [74]. The anti-diabetic or hypoglycemic potential involves inhibition of α-amylase and glucosidase owing to the presence of high concentration of ellagic acid, ascorbic acid and flavonoids in fruit extract [75]. Significant reduction in serum glucose and triglyceride levels have been reported in STZ-induced diabetic male Long-Evans rats [76]. These fruit extracts are also known to reduce significantly total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL-cholesterol level [77]. It is also reported to improve ischemia–reperfusion induced oxidative stress conditions by reducing myocardial lipid peroxidation and augmenting antioxidant enzymes activity in rat heart [78]. Stress related oxidative damage is a major factor in various physiological disorders. Administration of E. officinalis extracts have been reported to lower down oxidative stress conditions in brain frontal cortex and striatum due to certain external shocks [79]. Its antidepressant activity is also reported due to inhibition of brain biogenic amines, and affinity with serotonin receptors, dopaminergic D2-receptor and GABA-B receptors [80]. Fruits extracts has antiviral properties and also functions as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. *Emblica* significantly reduced UV induced erythema, had excellent free-radical quenching capabilities and chelating properties for iron and copper [68].
