Emblica officinalis: A promising herb confining versatile applications

Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (EO) (syn. Phyllanthus emblica L.), of Phyllanthacea family, holds great significance in traditional medicine systems with well-documented therapeutic potentials demonstarated by numerous experimental and clinical studies. Along with the therapeutic activities, EO finds applications in nanontechnology, green chemistry, and cosmeceuticals as well. The versatile applications of EO have been attributed to the major constitutents including polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Depsite numerous reported therapeutic applications of EO, the information on the exact mechanisms of the therapeutic action, clinical trials, dosage form, and toxicological studies is limited and scattered. The present review encompasses integrative information on phytochemicals and versatile applications of EO pertaining to the traditional use and therapeutic potentials explored via experimental and clinical studies along with toxicological studies and applications in nanotechnology and cosmeceuticals for gap analysis and provide researchers collective information for the future research studies.