Amla
Phyllanthus emblica
Also known as: Indian Gooseberry, Amalaki, Emblic
Overview
A rich natural source of vitamin C — several times more per gram than an orange, though published values vary widely with cultivar and lab method, and camu camu, acerola, and Kakadu plum all test higher. Much of amla's antioxidant activity comes from its tannins and polyphenols, not vitamin C alone, and it holds its vitamin C unusually well through drying and storage — but that is shelf stability, not absorption: no human study shows amla's vitamin C is absorbed more slowly or more completely than any other form. Cornerstone of Ayurvedic tridosha balancing.
Proposed mechanism
Emblicanin tannoids and polyphenols such as gallic and ellagic acid act as antioxidants alongside amla's vitamin C. In animal studies, amla extract raises superoxide dismutase and catalase activity. NF-kB inhibition is documented in cell culture and in rodent liver and brain tissue; human trials of a standardized extract show reduced hsCRP and oxidative stress markers, but no study has measured NF-kB in kidney tissue.
Mechanisms describe how researchers think a compound may act, often from laboratory work — a proposed mechanism is not proof of a clinical effect in people.
Traditional & studied uses
Related pathways
Pathway tags are a research aid for browsing the glossary — they are not a claim that this ingredient treats any condition.