Planta Med 2011; 77 - PM22
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282780

Anti-ulcerogenic Activity of the Standardized Water Extract of Phyllanthus emblica Linn

K Jaijoy 1, N Soonthornchareonnon 2, A Panthong 1, S Sireeratawong 3
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 3Division of Pharmacology, Department of Preclinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand

Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (synonym: Emblica officinalis Gaertn.), Family Euphorbiaceae is native to the tropics of South and Southeast Asia. It is also called Emblic, Emblic myrobalan, Indian Gooseberry, Malacca tree and Myrobalan. In Thailand, it is known as Ma-kham-pom. P. emblica is an herbal plant commonly used in Asian traditional medicine systems for treatment of many disorders including anorexia, indigestion, and anemia (1, 2). The fresh or dry fruit is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diarrhea, jaundice and inflammatory disorder (2, 3). The P. emblica water extract was prepared according to the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia and standardized. The phytochemical study, the P. emblica water extract contained tannins about 42.51%. The HPLC analysis of P. emblica water extract showed the presence of 20.48% gallic acid. Preliminary study, P. emblica water extract elicited the inhibitory effect on both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Thus, the gastric ulcer may be one of the potential side effect of P. emblica water extract caused by its inhibitory effect on COX-1 enzyme. The oral administration of the P. emblica water extract at the dose of 600mg/kg did not produce gastric lesions. On the contrary, the extract at the doses of 150, 300 and 600mg/kg reduced ulcer formation in all tested acute gastric ulcer models i.e. EtOH/HCl-, indomethacin-, and stress-induced gastric lesions. These results indicate that P. emblica water extract possess anti-ulcerogenic effect.

Keywords: Anti-ulcerogenic, Phyllanthus emblica Linn

Acknowledgement: Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program and the National Research Council of Thailand.

References: 1. Santisuk T et al. (2005) Floral of Thailand. Vol. 8 Part 1 (Euphorbiaceae). Prachachon. Bangkok.

2. Khan KH (2009) Bot Res Intl 2(4): 218–28

3. Deokar AB (1998) Medicinal plant grown at Rajegaon, 1st ed. DS Manav Vikas Foundation. Pune.