Medicinal Potential of Phyllanthus emblica (Linn.) Fruits Extracts: Biological and Pharmacological Activities

Abstract

Phyllanthus emblica (Linn.) is a common plant and fruits very popular in Bangladesh. It is a common ingredient of many traditional and herbal medicines. The intention of the present study was to explore the scientific relation with the traditional use of the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica (Linn.). Antimicrobial screening, analgesic activity, antidiarrheal activity and the brine shrimp lethality test for cytotoxic activity screening are the selected pharmacological activities. Phytochemical analysis of ethanolic fruits extract confirms that the fruit contain flavonoids, alkaloids, tannin, steroids, reducing sugar and gum. Experimental screening confirms that the fruit extract produced 19.07% and 38.67% writhing inhibition at the oral dose of 250 and 500mg/kg-body weights respectively. That means ethanol extract of the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica (Linn.) has an analgesic property. The ethanolic fruit extract of Phyllanthus emblica (Linn.) also significantly inhibited ear edema formation in xylene induced ear edema, considered as direct evidence that supporting the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic fruit extract of Phyllanthus emblica (Linn.) The fruit extract ha a remedy for a different bacterial disease is supported by the antibacterial screening tests. During the antidiarrheal activity screening at the dose of 500mg/kg-body weight, Phyllanthus emblica (Linn.) showed a moderate antidiarrheal activity in castor oil induced test in mice and caused an increase in latent period i.e. delayed the onset of diarrheal episode and decreased the frequency of defecation. T-test of these responses showed that the result is significant throughout the observation period. The ethanolic fruits extract have cytotoxic activity and test sample showed different mortality rate at different concentrations. The LC50 values were found to be 60µg/ml for the crude extract. The 90% mortality (LC90) values were 100µg/ml respectively. According to the results of the present investigation, we can conclude that the ethanolic fruits extract of Phyllanthus emblica (Linn.) has significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-diarrheal and cytotoxic effects. This study also suggests us to isolate the active compound(s) responsible for those pharmacological properties.