950mg

These promote longevity, particularly through the protection they offer to the heart and lungs, as amla is traditionally known to fight chronic lung problems as well as upper respiratory infections. It is used in Ayurveda as a cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, antipyretic, antidiabetic, cerebral, gastrointestinal, and rejuvinative tonic. It is also used in the treatment of leukorrhea, artherosclerosis and respiratory difficulties.

Fresh amla fruit is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), with up to 720 mg/100g of fresh pulp or up to 900 mg/100g of pressed juice. Although only one inch in diameter, the Amla fruit has the same antiscorbutic value as two oranges, and on a per-gram basis contains 20 times as much vitamin C as a typical orange. The amla fruit is a highly nutritious and important dietary source of vitamin C, minerals and amino acids, containing a protein and ascorbic acid concentration that is 3-fold and 160-fold that of an apple, respectively. The fruit also contains a considerably higher concentration of most minerals than apples, not to mention a wider array of amino acids. Amla fruit is also rich in chromium, zinc, and copper. Amla fruit also contains phyllemblin and curcuminoides, and the oil from the seed of the fruit contains 64.8% linolenic acid and closely resembles linseed oil.

However, although amla fruit has gained popularity due to its vitamin C contents, amla extracts (which contain negligeable amounts of vitamin C) appear to be have even more potent antioxidant potential. This suggests that the effects of amla fruit are due to the overall effect of its other polyphenols, rather than vitamin C alone. An in vitro study found that even elevated levels of ascorbic acid did not show as much antioxidant potential as an amla extract.

Not surprisingly, Amla's reputation is supported by scientific studies confirming its health-enhancing properties in a number of fields.

AMLA AS A DEFENSE AGAINST ABNORMAL CHOLESTEROL AND LIPOPROTEIN METABOLISM:
A number of published, peer-reviewed studies have confirmed amla as an effective modulator of lipoprotein metabolism. Indeed, there is a strong correlation between lipoprotein dysfunction and the aging process. One Japanese study found that amla lowered total cholesterol levels by up to 26%, while simultaneously raising levels of PPARalpha (an enzyme that is known to regulate the transcription of genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism) by 48% in aged laboratory rats. This is an impressive expression of synergy considering that elevated lipid levels and depressed PPARalpha levels have a strong correlation with the aging process. Numerous other animal studies were equally impressive, which further served to establish amla's effectiveness in dealing with abnormal lipid levels and cholesterol. In one such study, amla reduced serum cholesterol and LDL levels by 82% and 90%, respectively. Studies with humans have also shown promising results, with one double-blind, peer-reviewed Indian study showing that amla supplementation significantly reduced total serum cholestrol levels in both normal and hypercholesterolaemic men after just 28 days. In another human study, amla increased HDL cholesterol by 25% while reducing LDL cholestrol by nearly 16% in addition to significantly reducing postprandial glycemia in the oral glucose tolerance test by more than 12%.

AMLA AS AN IMMUNE SYSTEM ENHANCER:
Published in-vitro clinical studies reveal that amla offers cytotoxic protection at the cellular level. It does so by reducing both the immunosuppressive and free radical activity of toxic heavy metals in addition to significantly enhancing the survival and activity of macrophages (white blood cells that form the first line of defense of the immune system). This has led researchers to examine any anti-carcinogenic applications that amla may have, and clinical studies in this area have produced promising results. These include one trial where laboratory rats were administered with N- nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) to induce visible liver tumours, and only 11% of the animals treated with amla developed such tumours.

OTHER USES:
Other functions of amla include that of an antacid. In one unpublished study, the effects of amla were examined in patients with gastritis syndrome. Amla was given to 20 such patients in a dose of 3 grams, thrice a day for seven days, and was found to be effective in 85 per cent of cases. Patients enduring hyperchlorhydria, a gastric condition characterized by a build-up of an excessive amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and a burning sensation in the abdominal and cardiac regions, likewise benefitted from amla supplementation. Amla has also been examined for its cognitive-enhancing capabilities.

Amla is a carminative and stomachic. It also raises protein absorption due to its effect on positive nitrogen balance. Scientists have identified the active ingredients of amla to include a series of diterpenes known as gibberellins, as well as flavonoids (including kaempferol and quercetin), polyphenols (emblicanin A and B, punigluconin and pedunculagin) and the triterpene lupeol. Also present are the phyllantine and zeatin alkaloids and a number of benzenoids including amlaic acid, corilagin, ellagic acid, ethyl gallate, putranjivain A, digallic acid, phyllemblic acid, emblicol, and alactaric acid.

References

Khopde SM, Priyadarsini KI, Mohan H, Gawandi VB, Satav JG, Yakhmi JV, Banavaliker MM, Biyani MK and Mittal JP. Characterizing the antioxidant activity of amla (Phyllanthus emblica) extract. Current Science. 2001;81(2):185-190.

Yokozawa T, et al. Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) prevents dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress in the ageing process. Br J Nutr. 2007 Jun;97(6):1187-95.

Mathur R, et al. Hypolipidaemic effect of fruit juice of Emblica officinalis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. J Ethnopharmacol. 1996 Feb;50(2):61-8.

Manjunatha S, et al. Effect of Chyawanprash and vitamin C on glucose tolerance and lipoprotein profile. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2001 Jan;45(1):71-9.

Sai Ram M, et al. Cytoprotective activity of Amla (Emblica officinalis) against chromium (VI) induced oxidative injury in murine macrophages. Phytother Res. 2003 Apr;17(4):430-3.

Rajeshkumar MV, et al. Induction of apoptosis in mouse and human carcinoma cell lines by Emblica officinalis polyphenols and its effect on chemical carcinogenesis. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2003 Jun;22(2):201-12.

Damodaran M, Nair KR. A tannin from the Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica) with a protective action on ascorbic acid. Biochem J. 1936 Jun;30(6):1014-20.

Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) prevents dyslipidaemia and oxidative stress in the ageing process.
Br J Nutr. 2007 Jun;97(6):1187-95.
Yokozawa T, Kim HY, Kim HJ, Okubo T, Chu DC, Juneja LR.

Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) is widely used in Indian medicine for the treatment of various diseases. We have investigated the effects of amla on the lipid metabolism and protein expression involved in oxidative stress during the ageing process. SunAmla or ethyl acetate extract of amla, a polyphenol-rich fraction, was administered at a dose of 40 or 10 mg/kg body weight per d for 100 d to young rats aged 2 months and aged rats aged 10 months. The lipid levels, such as cholesterol and TAG, in serum and liver were markedly elevated in aged control rats, while they were significantly decreased by the administration of amla. The PPARalpha is known to regulate the transcription of genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism. The PPARalpha protein level in liver was reduced in aged control rats. However, the oral administration of amla significantly increased the hepatic PPARalpha protein level. In addition, oral administration of amla significantly inhibited the serum and hepatic mitochondrial thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels in aged rats. Moreover, the elevated expression level of bax was significantly decreased after the oral administration of amla, while the level of bcl-2 led to a significant increase. Furthermore, the expressions of hepatic NF-kappaB, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein levels were also increased with ageing. However, amla extract reduced the iNOS and COX-2 expression levels by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation in aged rats. These results indicate that amla may prevent age-related hyperlipidaemia through attenuating oxidative stress in the ageing process.

Influence of amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) on hypercholesterolemia and lipid peroxidation in cholesterol-fed rats.
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2005 Dec;51(6):413-8.
Kim HJ, Yokozawa T, Kim HY, Tohda C, Rao TP, Juneja LR.

The effects of amla on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and cholesterol levels were investigated in vitro and in vivo using Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation and cholesterol-fed rats. SunAmla and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of amla significantly inhibited thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactive substance level in the Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation and the effects were stronger than those of probucol. In addition, the administration of SunAmla (at a dose of 20 or 40 mg/kg body weight/d) or EtOAc extract of amla (at a dose of 10 or 20 mg/kg body weight/d) for 20 d to rats fed 1% cholesterol diet significantly reduced total, free and LDL-cholesterol levels in a dose-dependent manner, and EtOAc extract of amla exhibited more potent serum cholesterol-lowering effect than SunAmla in the same amount. Furthermore, the oxidized LDL level in serum was markedly elevated in cholesterol-fed control rats as compared with normal rats, while it was significantly decreased by the administration of SunAmla or EtOAc extract of amla. Moreover, the serum TBA-reactive substance level was also significantly decreased after oral administration of SunAmla or EtOAc extract of amla. These results suggest that amla may be effective for hypercholesterolemia and prevention of atherosclerosis.

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.
Jacob A, Pandey M, Kapoor S, Saroja R. 

The effect on total serum cholesterol and its lipoprotein fractions of supplementation of the diet with amla (Emblica officinalis, Gaertn., the Indian gooseberry) was studied in normal and hypercholesterolaemic men aged 35-55 years. The supplement was given for a period of 28 d in the raw form. Both normal and hypercholesterolaemic subjects showed a decrease in cholesterol levels. Two weeks after withdrawing the supplement, the total serum cholesterol levels of the hypercholesterolaemic subjects rose significantly almost to initial levels.