Current Science

Passed on from generation to generation

Figure source: Moubamba  (2009)

Like a family heirloom, Amla’s ‘not-so-secret’ uses are being passed on proudly from one generation to the next. It is used today as it was years ago- health tonics (Chayavanprash and Triphala), hair oils (Amla hair oil), as an anti-inflammatory, anti-nauseant, antioxidant, to protect and/or treat irregularities of the liver (ex. biliousness), blood (ex. anemia), gastrointestinal tract (ex. indigestion), et cetera (Ishtiaq et al., 2007). Presently, specific protective and healing properties are being explored along with further investigations into its pharmacodynamics, i.e. mechanisms of action in the body (example its efficacy in protecting against hepatocarcinogenesis and how it may do so) (Sultana, 2008).  

But wait.. there's more: Amla versus diabetic cataract

Cataract in human eye
Figure source: Wikipedia

A well-executed experiment by Suranarayana et al. (2007) demonstrated yet another positive outcome of Amla consumption. In this 8-week randomized vehicle-controlled open-label trial, the efficacy of Amla in delaying cataract progression in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was questioned. Rats were divided into four groups: Group I was a non-diabetic vehicle control group, Group II was a non-treated diabetic group, Group III had diabetic rats treated with a standardized extract of tannins as found in Amla (including emblicanin A and B, rutin, gallic acid, punigluconin and pedunculagin), and Group IV had diabetic rats treated orally with standardized dried Amla powder. This was done to determine whether it was the tannins, or the Amla fruit as a whole that produced an effect. All other baseline conditions were equivalent (diet, temperature, water) and standard procedures and protocols were used to conduct the experiment. Results indicated that treatment with Amla or the tannins unfortunately did not reduce the blood glucose levels or increase blood insulin levels. Despite that, however, the progression of diabetic cataract in Groups III and IV were significantly reduced when compared to Group II. Excitingly, when treated with the whole Amla extract (Group IV rats) the onset of cataract itself was significantly delayed! 

Time heals all wounds. If it doesn't, don't worry. Amla will. 

Photographic evidence of wound healing
properties of Amla. If applied on wounds,
Amla stimulated rapid wound closure (figures
on right) when compared to control mice (figures
on left)
Figure source: Sumitra et al. (2009)

Sumitra et al. (2009), through an equally thorough experiment, provided extensive evidence on the wound-healing properties of Amla extract, this time via topical application of Amla on randomly grouped surgically wounded mice. One group of mice acted as a placebo-control (Group A), while Amla extract was applied on the other (Group B). The authors measured several variables (example, glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels) to demonstrate Amla’s superior antioxdative ability to significantly reduce significantly reduce the oxidative stress generated by the wound. More importantly, topical application of Amla stimulated collagen synthesis, thereby promoting faster wound contraction and repair. Once again, another very favorable property of Amla was discovered. Further research can investigate whether the wound healing properties of Amla can be attributed to isolated active components or is a result of the combination of all the constituents of Amla. 

Drawbacks and future experiments:

The drawback of both experiments was that the researchers were not blinded to treatment/control groups. Also, the duration of the experiments was short ranging from 2-8 weeks. For Suranayana et al.’s study, a longer experiment may have demonstrated a much-appreciated reduction of blood glucose levels. For both studies, a longer time span may have unraveled the potential adverse effects, or lack thereof, of Amla ingestion or topical application. Nevertheless, both experiments depicted additional promising uses of Amla, ones that encourage further probing into.