A synoptic review on the anticancerous property of Phyllanthus emblica L. or Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Indian gooseberry)
Sonali Ray
Medicinal plants have been long utilised in the history of mankind for their various pharmacological properties. One such novel medicinally important plant is Phyllanthus emblica L. or Emblica officinalis Gaertn., belonging to the family Phyllanthaceae. It is commonly known as Indian gooseberry or Amla, and has numerous references in the indigenous systems of traditional medicine, in the treatment of various ailments. Amla, which is rich in Vitamin C and other essential amino acids, along with a number of macro and micronutrients, is a plethora of several significant pharmacological properties. One of the remarkable properties of the plant is its anticancerous effect. Cancer being one of the most dreadful diseases worldwide and the scavenging effects of chemotherapeutic drugs on human bodies is a matter of deep concern. In this regard, the anticancerous property of the plant is of immense importance, as it can be utilised as an antineoplastic agent as well as a chemopreventive adjuvant drug. The plant owes this ability to the presence of active principles like flavonoids like quercetin, rutin, tannins, polyphenols like gallic acid, ellagic acid, progallin, etc. This review is an attempt to summarise the findings and reports of the effects of the various extracts of the plant on the different types of carcinomas.
Sonali Ray. A synoptic review on the anticancerous property of Phyllanthus emblica L. or Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Indian gooseberry). J Med Plants Stud 2025;13(1):12-16. DOI: 10.22271/plants.2025.v13.i1a.1784