Emblica:
The Ayurvedic Fruit Extract that Reduces Cholesterol and Provides Potent Antioxidant Protection

Emblica, also known by its Indian name Amla, is made from the ripe fruit of the Indian gooseberry tree, which is regarded as an important and sacred tree in India. The tree, which was worshipped as Mother Earth and believed to nurture humankind because its fruits are extremely nourishing, grows in deciduous forests above 4,500 ft.

The fruit has been used for thousands of years by Ayurvedic physicans who refer to it as the "sustainer" and "the fruit where the goddess of prosperity resides." The leaves, fruit and flowers are still used in Indian religious ceremonies.

Although Emblica is reputed to have the highest content of vitamin C of any natural plant and is revered for its rejuvenating powers, most of the current scientific interest has centered on its unique tannins and flavanoids, which contain very powerful antioxidant properties. Even more exciting, studies indicate that Emblica has the ability to stimulate our natural antioxidant enzyme systems including catalase, superoxide dismutase SOD, and glutathione peroxidase.1,2

Research has also shown that this powerful herb is a potent immune-stimulator, through its activation of natural killer (NK) cell activity3, as well as being an adaptogen that can increase tolerance to stress.

Many other interesting and useful activities of this herb have recently been confirmed, including its anti-tumor, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and liver and cardiovascular protective properties.

Offers broad-spectrum protection against heavy metals

Emblica appears to be an excellent antidote to a world filled with environmental toxins, offering protection from a number of heavy metals. It has even been proven to almost completely prevent DNA and cell damage from arsenic poisoning!4

In laboratory tests done on animals it was also shown to prevent cellular damage resulting from lead5,6,7, aluminum6, nickel8, cadmium9, and chromium10 toxicity. This is particularly significant because environmental toxins are carcinogenic, and since Emblica inhibits cellular mutation resulting from heavy metal poisoning it may have a role in cancer prevention.

In one study, fresh Emblica fruit juice was given to laboratory animals that were overloaded on iron for 10 days. The antioxidants in the juice protected the animals from liver toxicity, and the results confirmed the Ayurvedic use of Emblica fruit to safeguard the liver.11

Reduces cholesterol and aortic plaque

Emblica provides a broad-based approach to preventing cardiovascular damage through its powerful cholesterol regulating and multi-faceted antioxidant properties. Two of its most exciting effects are its ability to reduce cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, and improve glucose tolerance and blood sugar regulation. This is especially important because both high blood cholesterol and high blood sugar are risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. A study just published in March 2003 suggests that the tannins in Emblica inhibit the production of aldose reductase, an enzyme implicated in the development of diabetic cataracts.12

Emblica has the ability to lower cholesterol by the unique concerted action of both inhibiting cholesterol production and enhancing cholesterol degradation. It has also shown the amazing property of actually reducing plaque in clogged arteries caused by high cholesterol levels in some animal studies.

A study at the University of Delhi in India tested the effects of Emblica on cholesterol levels in men aged 35 to 55. One group had normal cholesterol and the other group had high cholesterol. After 28 days, both the normal and high cholesterol groups showed a decrease in cholesterol levels. And after two weeks of not taking Emblica, the serum cholesterol levels of the men in the high cholesterol group rose significantly, almost to the initial levels.13

Several animal studies have also shown that the flavonoids in Emblica reduce lipid serum levels and aortic plaques.14,15 Rabbits that had been fed a high cholesterol diet were given fresh Emblica juice for 60 days. Their serum cholesterol and LDL levels were lowered by 83% and 90%, respectively. Similarly, the tissue lipid levels showed a significant reduction and aortic plaques decreased in size. Consequently, the researchers suggested that Emblica be used as a pharmaceutical tool for patients wanting to reduce their cholesterol levels.16

Inhibits proliferation of cancer cells

Scientists at Nagasaki University in Japan recently found that Emblica contains 18 compounds that inhibit the growth of gastric and uterine cancer cells.17 Additionally, a recent study at the University of Ferrara in Italy showed that Emblica extract inhibited the growth of in vitro human breast cancer cells.18

Heals Ulcers

Long used in traditional Indian medicine for the treatment of stomach disorders like heartburn, ulcers, and indigestion, recent studies have confirmed that Emblica does indeed heal ulcers by decreasing gastric acid19,20 and pepsin output19, and increasing the stomach's protective mucus secretion.19 Researchers at the University College of Medicine in Calcutta, India also concluded that Emblica's antioxidant properties are responsible for protecting the stomach wall in laboratory animals from the harmful effects of a drug specifically known to cause ulcers.21

Emblica is sometimes referred to as the "nurse" in Ayurvedic medicine, since it has powerful healing powers. In a world in which cardiovascular disease is the number one killer, and cancer a close second, this fruit extract might very well be named "the modern day protector."

References:

Rajak S, Banerjee SK, Sood S, Dinda AK, Gupta YK, Gupta SK, Maulik SK. Emblica officinalis causes myocardial adaptation and protects against oxidative stress in ischemic-reperfusion injury in rats. Phytother Res. 2004 Jan;18(1):54-60.
Abstract
Bhattacharya A, Ghosal S, Bhattacharya SK. Antioxidant activity of tannoid principles of Emblica officinalis (amla) in chronic stress induced changes in rat brain. Indian J Exp Biol. 2000 Sep;38(9):877-80.
Abstract
Suresh K, Vasudevan DM.Augmentation of murine natural killer cell and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity activities by Phyllanthus emblica, a new immunomodulator. J Ethnopharmacol. 1994 Aug;44(1):55-60.
Abstract
Biswas S, Talukder G, Sharma A. Protection against cytotoxic effects of arsenic by dietary supplementation with crude extract of Emblica officinalis fruit. Phytother Res. 1999 Sep;13(6):513-6.
Abstract
Roy AK, Dhir H, Sharma A. Modification of metal-induced micronuclei formation in mouse bone marrow erythrocytes by Phyllanthus fruit extract and ascorbic acid. Toxicol Lett. 1992 Aug;62(1):9-17.
Abstract
Dhir H, Roy AK, Sharma A, Talukder G. Modification of clastogenicity of lead and aluminium in mouse bone marrow cells by dietary ingestion of Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract. Mutat Res. 1990 Jul;241(3):305-12.
Abstract
Dhir H, Roy AK, Sharma A. Relative efficiency of Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract and ascorbic acid in modifying lead and aluminium-induced sister-chromatid exchanges in mouse bone marrow. Environ Mol Mutagen. 1993;21(3):229-36.
Abstract
Dhir H, Agarwal K, Sharma A, Talukder G. Modifying role of Phyllanthus emblica and ascorbic acid against nickel clastogenicity in mice. Cancer Lett. 1991 Jul 26;59(1):9-18.
Abstract
Khandelwal S, Shukla LJ, Shanker R. Modulation of acute cadmium toxicity by Emblica officinalis fruit in rat. Indian J Exp Biol. 2002 May;40(5):564-70.
Abstract
Sai Ram M, Neetu D, Deepti P, Vandana M, Ilavazhagan G, Kumar D, Selvamurthy W. Cytoprotective activity of Amla (Emblica officinalis) against chromium (VI) induced oxidative injury in murine macrophages. Phytother Res. 2003 Apr;17(4):430-3
Abstract
Bhattacharya A, Kumar M, Ghosal S, Bhattacharya SK. Effect of bioactive tannoid principles of Emblica officinalis on iron-induced hepatic toxicity in rats. Phytomedicine. 2000 Apr;7(2):173-5.
Abstract
Suryanarayana P, Kumar PA, Saraswat M, Petrash JM, Reddy GB. Inhibition of aldose reductase by tannoid principles of Emblica officinalis: implications for the prevention of sugar cataract. Mol Vis. 2004 Mar 12;10:148-54.
Abstract
Jacob A, Pandey M, Kapoor S, Saroja R. Effect of the Indian gooseberry (amla) on serum cholesterol levels in men aged 35-55 years. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1988 Nov;42(11):939-44.
Abstract
Anila L, Vijayalakshmi NR. Flavonoids from Emblica officinalis and Mangifera indica-effectiveness for dyslipidemia. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jan;79(1):81-7.
Abstract
Thakur CP. Emblica officinalis reduces serum, aortic and hepatic cholesterol in rabbits. Experientia. 1985 Mar 15;41(3):423-4.
Abstract
Mathur R, Sharma A, Dixit VP, Varma M. Hypolipidaemic effect of fruit juice of Emblica officinalis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. J Ethnopharmacol. 1996 Feb;50(2):61-8.
Abstract
Zhang YJ, Nagao T, Tanaka T, Yang CR, Okabe H, Kouno I. Antiproliferative activity of the main constituents from Phyllanthus emblica. Biol Pharm Bull. 2004 Feb;27(2):251-5.
Abstract
Lambertini E, Piva R, Khan MT, Lampronti I, Bianchi N, Borgatti M, Gambari R. Effects of extracts from Bangladeshi medicinal plants on in vitro proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines and expression of estrogen receptor alpha gene. Int J Oncol. 2004 Feb;24(2):419-23.
Abstract
Al-Rehaily AJ, Al-Howiriny TA, Al-Sohaibani MO, Rafatullah S. Gastroprotective effects of 'Amla' Emblica officinalis on in vivo test models in rats. Phytomedicine. 2002 Sep;9(6):515-22.
Abstract
Sairam K, Rao ChV, Babu MD, Kumar KV, Agrawal VK, K Goel RK. Antiulcerogenic effect of methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis: an experimental study. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Sep;82(1):1-9.
Abstract
Bandyopadhyay SK, Pakrashi SC, Pakrashi A. The role of antioxidant activity of Phyllanthus emblica fruits on prevention from indomethacin induced gastric ulcer. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 May;70(2):171-6.
Abstract

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