Herbs, immunity and COVID

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome including any two of the following: hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, low HDL-cholesterol, or abdominal obesity has seen a surge during the last few decades. 

Functional dietary supplements have a great role in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases. Emblica Officinalis Gatertn, commonly called amla, has been used since ancient times for treating the conditions like rheumatic pains, gonorrhea, asthma, hemorrhage, jaundice, dyspepsia, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, eye disease, brain health, intestinal ailments, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart diseases, and various cancers.

Amla is known to have hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and antioxidant properties. These may be due to the high levels of vitamin C, tannins, polyphenols, fibers, minerals, proteins, and amino acids in amla fruit.

The anti-thrombotic properties of amla can promote vascular health by improving blood fluidity, anti-coagulation, and antiplatelet activity, causing a warming sensation. It also maintains natural immunity and digestive functions.

Its anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, anti-coagulant, and anti-platelet activities make it a desirable choice for the prevention of a variety of vascular disorders.

Some evidence supports the longevity-promoting effects of Emblica Officinalis, preliminary due to its potent antioxidant activity. They show high antioxidant activity in the cells of the brain. Renal injury can occur in the excess of reactive oxygen species in the renal tissue. Amla can check such damage due to its high concentrations of antioxidants ascorbic acid, gallic acid and phenolic compounds, suggesting its role in the prevention of age-related renal disease and improvement of urinalysis parameters.

In the liver, they possess the ability to modulate basal oxidative markers and enhance endogenous antioxidant defences in a hepatocyte cell line (HepG2). 

Objective: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study determined the preventive effect of amla on vascular functions, blood haematology, hemorheology, glucose and lipid profiles, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers. It also examined the safety profile of amla including urinalysis and hepatic risk parameters in healthy volunteers. 

Methodology: A study utilized 15 Eligible healthy adult subjects randomized to receive either amla or placebo (500 mg per day) for 18-weeks. The efficacy parameters like the vascular function, blood hematology, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers, glucose and lipid profiles, urinalysis, and liver hepatotoxicity were evaluated in this study.

Results: Significant improvements in the primary efficacy parameter of blood fluidity were observed after amla intake. Secondary endpoints also improved, like lowering of von Willebrand factor (vWF), reduced 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as well as thrombin (TM) biomarkers of oxidative stress along with a significant improvement in HDL-cholesterol and lowering the LDL-cholesterol levels. 

No substantial changes were reported in respect to the liver hepatotoxicity, urinalysis, and hematology after consumption of amla compared to baseline or placebo. 

Also, amla intake was not associated with any adverse events, changes in safety parameters or tolerance issues. 

Conclusions: The study showed a significant improvement in endothelial function and reduction in biomarkers of oxidative stress. Furthermore, amla intake tends to increase plasma antioxidant potential and decrease oxidative stress, which can promote oxidative homeostasis. 

Alma does not disturb hepatic or renal function or diabetic indices in healthy humans. Thus, it has an acceptable sensory and safety profile while providing enormous potential for the management of a healthy lifestyle.