The Medicinal Uses of Phyllanthus

emblica L. (Indian Gooseberry)

*Center of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, **Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj

Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Siriraj Medical Bulletin 2022;15(3): 146-154

Poorada Booncharoen*, Puthida Thepnorarat*, Pravit Akarasereenont*, **

Abstract

Phyllanthus emblica

L. (Indian gooseberry) has been used in traditional medicine for treatment of var-

ious diseases in Asian countries. It has been recorded in Ayurvedic and traditional medicines in Thailand for

antitussive medicine for a long time. It is developed into

Phyllanthus emblica

fruit extract and also medicine/

health products with several health claims. However, there have been not articles discussing its use in Thai

traditional medicine and relevant empirical evidence. The objective of this article is to review and evaluate evi-

dence related to medicinal uses of the Indian gooseberry, including treatment of COVID-19, in order to provide

information for rationale uses. The Indian gooseberry and Thai traditional uses in Tamra Kanphaet Thaidoem

(Pheattayasat Songkhro Chabab Anurak) Volume 1 were listed. The empirical evidence of the medicinal prop-

erties of Indian gooseberry as list were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink,

ThaiJO and Google Scholar. Eleven out of thirteen scriptures mentioned to 164 recipes contain the Indian

gooseberry, Khamphi Prathomchinda contained the highest number of herbal recipes (32 recipes), followed

by Khamphi That Wiworn (31 recipes) and Khamphi Sapphakhunya (24 recipes), respectively. The eleven lit-

erature searches provided evidence related to cough, sore throat, constipation and pain including treatment

or prevention of COVID-19. In conclusion, the Indian gooseberry can be used as an alternative to cough relief.

The use of herbal mixtures is more common than single herbs for sore throat, constipation, fever and pain.

There is a crucial need for clinical studies on combined treatment with COVID-19.

Keywords:

Phyllanthus emblica

L.; Indian gooseberry; herb; evidence-based medicine; Thai traditional

medicine

Correspondence to: Poorada Booncharoen

E-mail: poorada.bon@mahidol.edu

Received: 24 February 2022

Revised: 4 March 2022

Accepted: 4 March 2022

http://dx.doi.org/10.33192/smb.v15i3.256321

146 ี ่� 15 ฉั่� 3 กรกฎาคม - กันยายน 2565

Original Article

Review Article

 









 

























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Siriraj Medical Bulletin



 





















 Phyllanthus emblica

Emblica ofcinalis



































 













 























Siriraj Medical Bulletin

148 ี ่� 15 ฉั่� 3 กรกฎาคม - กันยายน 2565

Original Article













 























 



















Review Article







  











    





    





    





    





5     

 





  

7 





  

     

     

     

     

     

     

149

Siriraj Medical Bulletin

 



















 













 









 























 

















































 



Siriraj Medical Bulletin





150 ี ่� 15 ฉั่� 3 กรกฎาคม - กันยายน 2565

Original Article















 

















 























 



























 























 

















 















 

















 



























Review Article

151

Siriraj Medical Bulletin



 





















 















 













 





Siriraj Medical Bulletin





















 







  











    



    









  









 















 

































  









    





























 



   











152 ี ่� 15 ฉั่� 3 กรกฎาคม - กันยายน 2565

Original Article















































 





























 























 























 

















 































 





















Review Article

153

Siriraj Medical Bulletin



 





 



Phyllanthus emblica



 





Emblica ofcinalisPhyllanthus niruri 

Tinospora cordifolia





 







 







 





 





 



Phyllanthus emblica



 



Emblica ofcinalisPhyllanthus

emblica





 



Phyllanthus emblica



 







 







 





 







 







 

Emblica ofcinalis



 

Emblica ofcinalis





 

Phyllanthus

Emblica





 







 



Phyllanthus emblica 



 

Emblica ofcinalis



 

Emblica ofcinalis 



 

Emblica ofcinalis



 





 





 





Siriraj Medical Bulletin

154 ี ่� 15 ฉั่� 3 กรกฎาคม - กันยายน 2565

Original Article



 







 



 









 



Phyllanthus emblica





Review Article