Amla as phytogenic feed additive for efficient livestock production

Abstract

Indian gooseberry or amla (Phyllanthus emblica Linn or Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) is a valuably most important medicinal plant in Indian traditional system of medicine, i.e. in Ayurveda. Various parts of the plant are used to treat a range of diseases or used as feed additives in animals but the most important part is fruit. The fruit is rich in quercetin, phyllaemblic compounds, gallic acid, tannins, flavonoids, pectin and vitamin C and also contains various polyphenolic compounds. A wide range of phytochemical components including terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins have been shown to posses useful biological activities. The fruit is used either alone or in combination with other plants and have wide range of action such as antipyretic, analgesic, antitussive, antiatherogenic, adaptogenic, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, antianemia, anti hypercholesterolemia, wound healing, antidiarrheal, antiatherosclerotic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and neuroprotective properties. Amla is also reported to possess radiomodulatory, chemomodulatory, chemopreventive effects, free radical scavenging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and immunomodulatory activities. In this review, we have focused our interest on use of amla as phytogenic feed additive for efficient livestock production.