Amla, or Indian gooseberry, has been used by Indian doctors for many chronic conditions including blood sugar control.  Amla is the Hindi name while in Sanskrit, the term used is Amalaki. This edible fruit is well-known for its high content of vitamin C and its potent antioxidant activity, more potent than many other herbs.
Botanical name
The botanical names of amla are Emblica officinalis Gaertn and Phyllanthus emblica.

Amla benefit
Although Ayurvedic doctors have a great deal of experience with the use of Amla, little human research is available in the West. Research has been done with amla evaluating its role as an antioxidant, in ulcer prevention, for people with diabetes, for mental and memory effects, and its anti-inflammatory benefits. Unfortunately, most of this research has been done with animals and there are very few human studies that tell us in what conditions this herb is of most benefit.

In rodent studies, amla has been found to be helpful as an antioxidant, for cholesterol and blood sugar control, for memory, and the use of amla was helpful in delaying development of diabetic cataract in rats.

Antioxidant
Due to its high content of vitamin C and polyphenols, amla extract is a potent antioxidant.

Antioxidative activity, polyphenolic content and anti-glycation effect of some thai medicinal plants traditionally used in diabetic patients.
Med Chem. 2009 March; Kusirisin W, Srichairatanakool S, Lerttrakarnnon P, Lailerd N, Suttajit M, Jaikang C, Chaiyasut C. Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Ethanolic extracts of 30 Thai medicinal plants, traditionally used as alternative treatments in diabetes, were evaluated for antioxidative activity. Five plants had strong antioxidant activity: Amla Phyllanthus emblica Linn., Terminalia chebula Retz., Morinda citrifolia Linn., Kaempferia parviflora Wall. and Houttuynia cordata Thunb., respectively. Amla had stronger antioxidative activity than the other plants. The investigation showed that total polyphenol and tannin content of Amla and the flavonoid content of Houttuynia cordata were the highest. The results imply that these plants are potential sources of natural antioxidants which have free radical scavenging activity and might be used for reducing oxidative stress in diabetes.

Chemical and antioxidant evaluation of Indian gooseberry amla supplements.
Phytother Res. 2009 January. Poltanov EA, Shikov AN, Dorman HJ, Pozharitskaya ON, Makarov VG, Tikhonov VP, Hiltunen R. Open joint-stock company 'Diod', 11a Derbenevskaya Avenue, 113114, Moscow, Russia.
This study evaluated the chemistry and antioxidant properties of four commercial amla fruit extracts. All extracts produced positive responses in the total phenol, total flavonoid and total tannin assays. The presence of predominantly polyphenolic analytes, e.g. ellagic and gallic acids and corilagin, was confirmed.

Amla for cholesterol
Influence of amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) on hypercholesterolemia and lipid peroxidation in cholesterol-fed rats.
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2005 Dec;51(6):413-8.
Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Japan.
The effects of amla on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and cholesterol levels were investigated in vitro and in vivo using Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation and cholesterol-fed rats. SunAmla and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of amla significantly inhibited thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactive substance level in the Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation and the effects were stronger than those of probucol. These results suggest that amla may be effective for high cholesterol and prevention of atherosclerosis.

Diabetes
Is diabetes control a benefit of amla herb or amla extract?
     A study in animals shows this herbal supplement to play a role in reducing the oxidative damage from high blood sugar.

Amla extracts reduce oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
J Med Food. 2005 Fall;8(3):362-8. Bio-nutrition Division, Taiyo Kagaku Co. Ltd., Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan
The antioxidant properties of amla extracts and their effects on the oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetes were examined in rats. Amla in the form of either the commercial enzymatic extract SunAmla (Taiyo Kagaku Co. Ltd., Yokkaichi, Japan) or a polyphenol-rich fraction of ethyl acetate extract was given orally for 20 days to the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Amla extracts showed strong free radical scavenging activity. Amla also showed strong inhibition of the production of advanced glycosylated end products. The oral administration of amla extracts to the diabetic rats slightly improved body weight gain and also significantly alleviated various oxidative stress indices of the serum of the diabetic rats.

Radiation protection
Would taking amla extract supplements be helpful in those undergoing radiation therapy or would it also protect the cancer cells that the radiation is trying to destroy?

Protective Effect of an Extract of Emblica officinalis Against Radiation-Induced Damage in Mice.
Integr Cancer Ther. 2009 Mar; Jindal A, Soyal D, Sharma A, Goyal PK. Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
The radioprotective effect of amla extract was studied in mice. Swiss albino mice were exposed to gamma rays (5 Gy) in the absence (control) or presence (experimental) of amla extract, orally 100 mg/kg body weight, once daily for 7 consecutive days. A specimen of small intestine (jejunum) was removed from the mice and studied at different autopsy intervals from 12 hours to 30 days. In control animals, crypt cell population, mitotic figures, and villus length were markedly reduced on day 1; these later started to increase progressively but did not attain the normal level even at the last autopsy interval. The animals receiving amla extract prior to irradiation had a higher number of crypt cells and mitotic figures when compared with non-drug-treated control at all the autopsy intervals. Irradiation of animals resulted in a dose-dependent elevation in lipid peroxidation and a reduction in glutathione as well as catalase concentration in the intestine at 1 hour post-irradiation. In contrast, amla extract treatment before irradiation caused a significant depletion in lipid peroxidation and elevation in glutathione and catalase levels.

Skin and collagen
Type I pro-collagen promoting and anti-collagenase activities of Phyllanthus emblica extract in mouse fibroblasts.
J Cosmet Sci. 2009 Jul-Aug; Chanvorachote P, Pongrakhananon V, Luanpitpong S, Chanvorachote B, Wannachaiyasit S, Nimmannit U. Chanvorachote P, Pongrakhananon V, Luanpitpong S, Chanvorachote B, Wannachaiyasit S, Nimmannit U. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
As part of an ongoing search for the novel pharmacological activities of amla, the present study has shown its type I collagen promoting and anti-collagenase effects on primary mouse fibroblast cells. At a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml, amla extract significantly increased the type I pro-collagen level greater than that of an untreated control. Emblica extract caused an approximately 7.75-fold greater type I pro-collagen induction compared to the known herbal collagen enhancer asiaticoside at the same treatment concentration. Amla extract inhibited collagenase activity in a dose-dependent manner. This herbal extract has a promising pharmacological effect that benefits collagen synthesis and protects against its degradation and could be used as a natural anti-aging ingredient.

Sperm protection from toxins and drugs
Spermatotoxic effect of ochratoxin and its amelioration by Emblica officinalis aqueous extract.
Acta Pol Pharm. 2009 Nov-Dec; Chakraborty D, Verma R. Toxicology Division, Department of Zoology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad 380 009, India.
The present study was carried out to evaluate the spermatotoxic effect of ochratoxin and it's amelioration by Emblica officinalis aqueous extract. When male albino mice were treated with ochratoxin. alterations in various reproductive parameters were observed (sperm count, sperm motility, sperm viability and fertility rate), when further treated with the aqueous extract of Emblica officinalis (2 mg/animal/day for 45 days) amelioration was noted in ochratoxin-induced spermatotoxic effect. When normal human sperm cell suspension was treated with ochratoxin (in vitro), various morphological alterations were observed. These were mitigated further, when treated with aqueous extract of Emblica officinalis.

Amla herb chemistry
This herb has many substances, including apigenin, gallic acid, ellagic acid, chebulinic acid, quercetin), chebulagic acid, corilagin, isostrictiniin, methyl gallate, and luteolin. Tannins in amla include Phyllaemblicin B, emblicanin A (37%), emblicanin B (33%), punigluconin (12%) and pedunculagin.

Amla Supplement available in stores or on the internet
Amla supplement - Paradise Herbs 100% Amla Extract 20:1. Amla fruit extract (Phyllanthus emblica) 20:1 (Equivalent to 5000 mg whole fresh fruit) - 250 mg. Paradise Herbs Amla extract is naturally extracted using only the finest quality fruits grown in the pristine environment of the lower Himalayan Mountains.

Amla powder use
Amla powder is light brown colored with an astringent smell. Amla powder sold in one pound bags, suggested use one teaspoon daily or as needed

Paste use
Amla paste is touted as an excellent hair conditioner which makes hair glossy and silky.