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Amla
Amla is one of the oldest Indian fruits. It is a rich source of vitamin C and its content of ascorbic acid is next to only that of Barbados cherry (Malpighia glabra L.). It is one of the three constituents of the famous ayurvedic preparation, triphala, which is prescribed in many digestive disorders. The medicinal properties of amla have been mentioned in old ayurvedic texts, such as Charaksamhita and Sushrutsamhita. It is said to be the native of tropical South-Eastern Asia, particularly central and southern India. It is found in dry deciduous forests of India and Burma, except in the and regions and in the extreme north-west, ascending to 1,450 metres in the Himalayas. It is also found in Ceylon and the Malayan Islands of China. It contains gallic acid, ellagic acid, phyllantidine, phyllantine, punigluconin, pedunculagin, some amino acids, and some flavanoids. The fruit of Amla is commonly used in the treatment of burning sensation anywhere in the body, anorexia, constipation, urinary discharges, inflammatory bowels, cough, hemorrhoids, fever, thirst, and toxicity of the blood. The juice of the fresh bark mixed with honey and turmeric is given in gonorrhea. The leaf infusion with fenugreek seeds is given in chronic diarrhea. Acute bacillary dysentery may be treated with syrup of amalaki and lemon juice. The exudation from incisions made into the fruit is used as a collyrium in inflammatory eye conditions; the seeds are powdered and used to treat asthma, bronchitis, and biliousness.

ANTIMICROBIAL:
Aqueous and ethanol extracts of Amla have been found to be both antifungal and antimicrobial, without any indication of cellular toxicity.

ANTIVIRAL:
A bioassay guided fractionation of a methanol extract of the fruit of Amla (putranjivain A) was isolated as a potent inhibitory substance on the effects of human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase.

ANTICANCER:
It is an excellent source of vitamin C (ascorbate) when administered orally, has been found to enhance natural killer (NK) cell activity. The antitumor activity of it is mediated primarily through the ability of the drug to augment natural cell mediated cytotoxicity.

IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT:
It has been found to enhance natural killer cell activity and antibody dependent cytotoxicity in tumor bearing mice, enhancing lifespan to 35% beyond the control animals. An aqueous extract of it has been shown to significantly reduce the cytotoxic effects of sodium arsenite when administered orally in experiemental animals.

HYPOLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY:
Its juice treated rabbits excreted more cholesterol and phospholipids, suggesting that the mode of absorption was affected. Amla juice is an effective hypolipidemic agent and can be used as a pharmaceutical tool in hyperlipidaemic subjects.

ANTACID:
Clinical studies were conducted to investigate the effect of it in amlapitta (gastritis syndrome). The drug was found to be effective in 85 per cent of cases. Cases of hyperchlorhydria with burning sensation in abdominal and cardiac regions and epigastric pain were also benefited with Amla.

SAFETY:
No known side effects.

HERBAL DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Not reported.

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