Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Prevention by Gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica)

Abstract

Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn or Phyllanthus emblica Linn; family Phyllanthaceae) has a recognized history in Indian traditional medicine (Ayurveda). Various therapeutic properties have been attributed to gooseberry as a dietary supplement. Many parts of the plant (fruits, seed, leaves, root, bark, and flowers) possess various activities and are used to treat a range of diseases. This review focuses on the evidence for the cancer-preventive properties of gooseberry, its extracts, and its principal phytochemicals based on studies In Vitro and In Vivo. Most importantly, in multiple rodent models of cancer, treatment with P. emblica was found to prevent tumor incidence, number, and volume at various organ sites. The mechanism(s) implicated in gooseberry-mediated cancer inhibition are diverse and include antioxidants, Phase I and II enzyme modifications, anti-inflammatory action, regulation of the cell cycle, and modulation of oncogenic signaling genes. Studies in humans also indicate that P. emblica can offer various health benefits and synergize with other treatments. This review provides detailed information on the potential use of gooseberry extract as an anticarcinogenic in humans, illuminates the therapeutic applications, and discusses clinical trials.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ms. Kathy Kyler, Mr. Danny Morgan, and Ms. Taylor McCoy for helping with edit of review article. Also, thank NIH NCI R01CA213987 and the VA Merit Award for funding support. This publication was also supported in part by the National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant P30CA225520 and the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust contract awarded to the University of Oklahoma Stephenson Cancer Center and used the Proposal Services Core within the Office of Cancer Research. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Authors’ contributions

The authors G. Kumar and C.V. Rao were responsible for study design. The author G. Kumar did the literature search, draft writing, editing, draft modification after reviewer comments, and final manuscript confirmation. The author V. Madka edited and modified the draft of the manuscript. The author Gopal Pathuri made Figure 1 and provided guidance for the figures. The author Vishal Ganta provided guidance and comments during the review writing. The author C.V. Rao edited, modified and confirmed the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the VA Merit Award (1I01BX003198) and partly by the NCI R01CA213987.