AMLA Botanical Name - Overview, Benifits & Sideeffect

What Is Amla?

Amla is also commonly known as the Indian gooseberry, which is a very small fruit but has gained much popularity due to its various health benefits and medicinal properties. The botanical name of Amla comes under the family of Phyllanthaceae. The botanical name of Bhumi amla is Phyllanthus niruri which is a tropical herb that is famous because of its medicinal properties. The plant comes under the family Phyllanthaceae, which makes understanding the Bhumi amla botanical name and family important in herbal studies.

Amla is full of vitamin C, antioxidants, etc., making it useful for immunity production, better digestion, and healthy skin. Amla are an important area in traditional medicine for various treatments of the illness, such as respiratory problems, swelling, and much more. Therefore signifies its importance in the health and wellness practice, while the amla botanical name family gives some insight into where in the plant kingdom it sits. Traditional medicine highlights the extraordinary efficacy of the treatment of the many different situations, from such skin problems as wrinkles and prematurely grey hair to digestive ailments.

Amla Overview Table

Plant morphology & Harvesting

The tree is small to medium-sized and can grow to a height of 1-8 meters (3-26 ft 3 in). The leaves are simple, subsessile, and closely spaced along branchlets. They are light green and resemble pinnate leaves. The branchlets are not smooth or coarsely pubescent. They are 10-20 cm (3.9-7.9 in) long and typically deciduous. Greenish-yellow blooms are seen.

The fruit has six vertical lines or furrows and is roughly spherical, pale greenish-yellow, smooth, and firm in appearance. The fruit can reach a diameter of 26 mm (1.0 in), and although the fruit of wild plants weighs about 5.5 g (0.19 oz), farmed fruits weigh between 28.4 g (1.00 oz) and 56 g on average (2.0 oz). The berries, which ripen in the autumn, are manually harvested after being climbed to higher branches containing the fruits. It is highly fibrous and has a sour, bitter, and astringent flavour.

Amla in Buddhist Tradition

The fruits of the emollient myrobalan are frequently mentioned in the Buddhist tradition. Buddha's knowledge is compared to an ambalan fruit in the palms of your hands in the poetic simile "O Bhagavan, the complete origination of all forms of things through time is within the scope of your intellect" found in the "atapacatka."

The great Indian king Asoka gave the Buddhist sangha one last gift: a half-amalaka fruit. The Ashokavadana states the following verses to show this: "A great benefactor, the lord of men, the illustrious Maurya Ashoka, has gone from just being master of Jambudvipa [all continents] to becoming lord of half a myrobalan." [8] This plant is credited by Theravada Buddhism's twenty-first Buddha, Phussa Buddha, as the Bodhi tree that helped him achieve enlightenment.

Traditional Uses of Amla

There are lot of uses in amla such as

1. Culinary uses

The amla fruit is consumed raw or prepared into a variety of recipes, including amle ka murabbah, a delicious dish created by immersing the fruits in syrup until they have been candied, and dal (a lentil preparation). Traditionally, it is ingested after meals.

2. Ayurvedic Applications

Dried and fresh plant fruits are used regularly as components in Ayurvedic treatments. These fruits have a bitter flavour that may be caused by a high density of ellagitannins, such as emblicanin A (37%), emblicanin B (33%), punigluconin (12%), and pedunculagin (14%), and they contain high levels of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) [13]. [14] Punicafolin, phyllemblin A, and other polyphenols such as flavonoids, kaempferol, ellagic acid, and gallic acid are also found in amla.

Amla Benefits & Medicinal Uses

• Enhanced immunity Amla has antibacterial and astringent characteristics that boost the immune system of the body.

• Hair maintenance.

• Reduces tension.

• Eye Care.

• Respiratory Health.

• Anemia Treatment.

• Blood Purifier.

• Diuretic

Potential Health Benefits of Amla

There are several potential advantages of using Indian gooseberry, but many of these need to be confirmed by higher-quality human trials.

Heartburn

• Taking 1,000 mg of amla fruit pills daily for four weeks in 68 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is characterised by recurrent heartburn, looked at how it affected GERD symptoms.

• Researchers found that the frequency and severity of heartburn and vomiting were reduced more frequently and more severely in the amla fruit group than in the placebo group.

Anti-aging

• Indian gooseberry may offer some promising anti-ageing properties due to its high vitamin C content. Antioxidant vitamin C may help reduce your body's natural ageing process by preventing cellular damage.

• Skin: Indian gooseberry, in addition to its antioxidant properties, may help stop the deterioration of collagen, the protein that creates the hard but flexible protein matrix in your skin and soft tissues.

• Hair: In Thailand, Indian gooseberry extract is frequently used to encourage hair growth, and some research suggests that it may suppress an enzyme that causes hair loss.

• Vision: Indian gooseberry extract improved the mitochondrial health of eye cells in experiments in culture, preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Cancer

• Indian gooseberry extracts have been shown to destroy some types of cancer cells in test tubes and animal tests, including breast, cervical, ovarian, and lung malignancies.

• Additionally, because of their antioxidant properties, Indian gooseberry extracts might help prevent cancer. Indian gooseberry appears to be able to stop the cell alterations that cause cancer and tumour growth.

Heart health

Indian gooseberry is most frequently used to support heart health. Indian gooseberry may lower your risk of heart disease in a variety of ways, including

• Antioxidant effects: Indian gooseberry extracts may offer a defence against the oxidative harm connected to heart injury. The results of numerous animal experiments have observed this.

• Regulates endothelial function: According to research on adults with type 2 diabetes, consuming 1,000 mg of Indian gooseberry daily had endothelial function benefits comparable to those of the drug atorvastatin.

• Anti-inflammatory: Indian gooseberry has been shown in human trials to significantly reduce inflammation, which is thought to be a major contributor to the development of heart disease.

• Normalizes blood fat levels: Indian gooseberry supplements have been shown in human studies to enhance blood lipid profiles, including triglyceride, total, and LDL (poor) cholesterol reductions and HDL (good) cholesterol elevations.

• Reduces blood pressure: By acting as a vasodilator or by enlarging the blood vessels, Indian gooseberry may assist in lowering high blood pressure levels. Heart disease is at risk due to high blood pressure.

• Anti-platelet effects: Last but not least, taking Indian gooseberry supplements may help prevent the development of blood clots, which, if they block an artery, may result in a heart attack or stroke.

Blood Sugar Control

In a short trial involving 32 participants, these results were also observed. Taking 1-3 grams of Indian gooseberry powder daily for 21 days resulted in considerably lower fasting and post-meal blood sugar levels compared to the control group.

Liver Protection

In experiments on rats, Indian gooseberry extract prevented liver damage brought on by either a high-fat diet or the liver-toxic compound N-nitroso diethylamine. This is probably a result of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, no research into this impact has been done on people.

Immune System Strengthening

• Last but not least, the vitamin C component of Indian gooseberry could have some immune-strengthening effects. The daily value (DV) for this vitamin is roughly 600–800% in a single Indian gooseberry.

• Numerous approaches exist for using vitamin C to improve immunological function. Since it is an antioxidant, it reduces cellular harm and inflammation.

• Chronic inflammation is a persistent immunological reaction that can worsen health, while short-term inflammation is a normal and healthy immune response.

• A higher risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or autoimmune disorders is linked to chronic inflammation.

• Additionally, vitamin C may strengthen your immune system by encouraging the growth of phagocytes, specialized immune cells that aid in scavenging dangerous intruders. It could aid in the production of antibodies that would protect you from any potential threats.

Potential Downsides of Amla

A specialty Indian or Asian market may be your best bet for finding fresh Indian gooseberries if you don't live nearby. However, dried Indian gooseberries are still available online.

• The use of it as a supplement may also have certain negative effects.

• Indian gooseberry has anti-platelet characteristics that can thin the blood and stop regular blood clotting.

• Before ingesting Indian gooseberry, consuming it as a tea, or taking it as a supplement, see your doctor if you have a blood clotting disorder or are taking a blood thinner.

• Due to the danger of bleeding, you should cease taking Indian gooseberries before surgery.

• In traditional medicine, bhumi amla is often used to treat various ailments, highlighting the importance of knowing its botanical name.

• Many people seek information on the bhumi amla botanical name to explore its health benefits, including its anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects.

• Learning about the Bhumi amla botanical name helps students in biology understand its classification and uses in both Ayurveda and modern medicine.

• Additionally, there is some indication that it may lower blood glucose levels, so those who are managing type 1 or type 2 diabetes or other blood sugar-related disorders should be aware of this.

• Additionally, the amla botanical name and family (Phyllanthaceae) indicate its classification within the plant kingdom, emphasizing its importance in Ayurvedic practices for rejuvenation and overall health.

Tips, Tricks, & Strategies for Amla (Exam Prep)

This table provides helpful tips and mnemonic devices to assist in studying the topic of amla effectively.

Additional Mnemonics for Preparation: This table includes more mnemonic devices specifically designed to help remember key facts about amla, its benefits, and its uses.

Weightage of Amla in Different Exams

This table outlines the weightage of topics related to amla in various entrance exams.

Amla NEET MCQs

Q1. The botanical name of Amla is:

1. Phyllanthus niruri

2. Phyllanthus emblica

3. Phyllanthus amarus

4. Phyllanthus reticulatus

Correct Answer: 2) Phyllanthus emblica

Explanation:
Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, belongs to the family Phyllanthaceae. Its correct botanical name is Phyllanthus emblica. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree widely cultivated in India. Amla fruits are rich in Vitamin C, polyphenols, and antioxidants, making it a key medicinal plant in Ayurveda. Other species like Phyllanthus niruri and Phyllanthus amarus are different plants used for liver and kidney treatments, not Amla.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2) Phyllanthus emblica.

Q2. The high vitamin C content of Amla provides:

1. Antioxidant & immunity boost

2. Protein synthesis

3. Fat storage

4. Nitrogen fixation

Correct Answer: 1) Antioxidant & immunity boost

Explanation:
Amla is considered the richest natural source of Vitamin C. This high Vitamin C concentration enhances the immune system, protects cells from free radical damage, and slows down aging by reducing oxidative stress. Antioxidants in amla help in detoxification and improve resistance against infections. It does not aid in protein synthesis, fat storage, or nitrogen fixation — those are unrelated biological processes.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) Antioxidant & immunity boost.

Q3. Excessive consumption of Amla supplements may:

1. Strengthen clotting

2. Thin blood

3. Increase cholesterol

4. Cause protein deficiency

Correct Answer: 2) Thin blood

Explanation:
Amla has natural antiplatelet and anticoagulant properties. While moderate consumption supports cardiovascular health, excessive intake can thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding. This can be dangerous for people already on blood-thinning medications like warfarin or aspirin. Amla does not increase cholesterol or cause protein deficiency, and instead of strengthening clotting, it actually reduces clotting tendency.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2) Thin blood.

Also Read:

• MCQs on Introduction to Kingdom Plantae

• Angiosperm Life Cycle

• Gymnosperm

FAQs on Amla

What is the botanical name of Amla?

The botanical name of Amla is Phyllanthus emblica (also called Emblica officinalis), and it belongs to the family Phyllanthaceae. It is a deciduous tree widely cultivated in India and other parts of Asia. The fruits of Amla are round, greenish-yellow, and sour in taste. It is considered a sacred tree in India and holds great importance in traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda. Due to its high nutritional value, it is often referred to as a “superfruit.”

What are the medicinal uses of Amla?

Amla is widely used in Ayurveda and modern medicine due to its multiple health benefits. It helps in boosting immunity because of its high Vitamin C content and protects the body from infections. Amla improves digestion and metabolism by stimulating gastric juices. It is also beneficial for skin and hair health, slowing down aging and preventing premature greying. In addition, it acts as a blood purifier and supports respiratory health by relieving cough and asthma.

What are the main nutrients found in Amla?

Amla is one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin C, which enhances immunity and acts as a strong antioxidant. It also contains tannins, flavonoids, ellagic acid, and gallic acid, all of which reduce oxidative stress and prevent cell damage. The fruit is rich in polyphenols that support cardiovascular health. These compounds collectively make Amla highly beneficial for maintaining overall health and preventing lifestyle diseases.

What is Bhumi Amla?

Bhumi Amla is a different plant known scientifically as Phyllanthus niruri, belonging to the same genus as Amla. Unlike Phyllanthus emblica (Indian gooseberry), Bhumi Amla is a small herb that grows close to the ground. It is traditionally used in Ayurveda for its anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and diuretic properties. It is particularly effective in treating liver disorders, urinary tract infections, and kidney stones. Thus, although related, Bhumi Amla and Amla have different medicinal applications.