emblic

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cicca emblica
• Emblica officinalis
• Phyllanthus taxifolius
• Emblica pisiformis
• Dichelactina nodicaulis
• Cicca macrocarpa
• Phyllanthus mairei
• Phyllanthus pomifer
• Diasperus emblica
• Diasperus pomifer
• Emblica arborea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Phyllanthaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Phyllanthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found specifically in Mauritius. Its presence in China is widespread, occurring in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan regions. Furthermore, the species extends its range into Eastern Asia, specifically inhabiting Taiwan. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environmental settings where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phyllanthus emblica is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that allows it to thrive across diverse topographical gradients. It is found across a wide elevational range, beginning at low-lying areas as low as 150 m AMSL and ascending to significant heights of up to 2300 m AMSL. This expansive vertical niche suggests a high degree of adaptability to varying climatic conditions and temperature regimes. On average, the species is most commonly situated at a mean elevation of 1250 m AMSL, a position that likely represents its optimal ecological zone for growth and reproduction within its native habitats.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Phyllanthus emblica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, undergoing a seasonal shedding of its foliage, which plays a critical role in its physiological cycle and environmental adaptation.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phyllanthus emblica is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, exhibiting a growth form that is entirely self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or liana. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, functioning as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. The plant displays significant variation in its physical dimensions, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 5 m to a maximum of 36 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 19 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

36 m

Plant height mean:

19 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phyllanthus emblica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, facilitating carbon fixation through standard enzymatic processes. Its vegetative architecture features linear leaf forms with entire margins and is notably devoid of both leaf thorns and spines. The leaves exhibit significant morphological variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 2 cm, maintaining a mean length of 1.4 cm, while the width fluctuates between 0.2 cm and 0.6 cm, averaging 0.4 cm. This leaf structure is associated with a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) that varies from a minimum of 92.35629345 cm²/g to a maximum of 163.1058847 cm²/g, with a mean value of 127.731089075 cm²/g, reflecting its resource allocation and light-interception strategies. The plant's structural integrity is supported by a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 766 mg/cm³. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-available nitrogen for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.4 cm

Leaf length min:

0.8 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

0.6 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) max:

163.1058847 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

127.731089075 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

92.35629345 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

766 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phyllanthus emblica is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects, with bees playing a significant role in the process. The plant exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, necessitating these external agents for successful reproduction. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruit characterized as a capsule. These fruits vary in size, with a mean width of 1.15 cm, ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.3 cm. The fruit is dehiscence-based, meaning it is capable of dehiscence. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, where animals assist in spreading the seeds. The seeds themselves show notable variation in physical properties; the seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.01497 g to a maximum of 1.047 g, with a mean mass of approximately 0.3318 g. Furthermore, the seed volume is consistent at a value of 75 mm³, representing both the minimum and maximum recorded volumes for the species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.15 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

1.047 g

Seed mass mean:

0.3318166665 g

Seed mass min:

0.01497 g

Seed volume max:

75 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phyllanthus emblica has 5 reported plant parts identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, seed, stem, root.

Fruit

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. BioMed research international
3. Central nervous system agents in medicinal chemistry
4. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
5. Pharmaceutical biology

Leaf

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
2. Parasitology research
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
5. Inflammopharmacology

Seed

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Oncology letters

Stem

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
2. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
3. Folia microbiologica

Root

1. Journal of natural products
2. Folia microbiologica

Chemicals

Phyllanthus emblica has 163 reported phytochemicals identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, Tannins, Flavonoids, vitamin C, ellagic acid.

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. 3 Biotech
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Indian journal of pharmacology
5. Pharmacological research

Tannins

1. Molecular biotechnology
2. 3 Biotech
3. Journal of natural products
4. Journal of environmental biology
5. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Flavonoids

1. Molecular biotechnology
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
3. Nutrition and cancer
4. Journal of environmental biology
5. Frontiers in plant science

vitamin C

1. Molecular biotechnology
2. 3 Biotech
3. Journal of environmental biology
4. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
5. Frontiers in plant science

ellagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Pharmacological research
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacopuncture
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Journal of food biochemistry

polyphenols

1. Molecular biotechnology
2. Pharmacological research
3. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
4. Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmacological research
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Journal of food biochemistry

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
4. Pharmacological research
5. Journal of food biochemistry

Chebulagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of natural products

Activities

Phyllanthus emblica has 605 reported activities identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Antimicrobial, Hypolipidemic, Antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrition and cancer
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. Journal of environmental biology
5. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Indian journal of experimental biology
5. International journal of oncology

Antimicrobial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Infectious disorders drug targets
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Mycobiology
5. International journal of oncology

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of cardiovascular and thoracic research
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
4. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chinese journal of integrative medicine
3. Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Planta medica

Antiulcerogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
3. International journal of clinical pediatric dentistry
4. Chinese journal of integrative medicine

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
4. BioMed research international

Immunomodulator

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Neurotoxicity research
4. Cureus

Medicinal Uses

Phyllanthus emblica has 101 reported medicinal uses identified across 44 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Diabetes mellitus, allergic rhinitis, jaundice, Alzheimer's disease.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations