aonla
Phyllanthus emblica
Indian gooseberry (amla)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Tribe: Phyllantheae
Subtribe: Flueggeinae
Genus: Phyllanthus
Species: P. emblica
Binomial name
Phyllanthus emblica
Synonyms
Cicca emblica Kurz
Emblica officinalis Gaertn.
Mirobalanus embilica Burm.
Phyllanthus mairei Lév.
Phyllanthus emblica (syn. Emblica officinalis), the Indian gooseberry, or aamla', is a deciduous tree of the Phyllanthaceae family. It is known for its edible fruit of the same name.
•
Plant anatomy and harvesting
The tree is small to medium in size, reaching 8 to 18 m in height, with a crooked trunk and spreading branches. The branchlets are glabrous or finely pubescent, 10–20 cm long, usually deciduous; the leaves are simple, subsessile and closely set along branchlets, light green, resembling pinnate leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit are nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows.
Ripening in autumn, the berries are harvested by hand after climbing to upper branches bearing the fruits. The taste of Indian gooseberry is sour, bitter and astringent, and is quite fibrous. In India, it is common to eat gooseberries steeped in salt water and turmeric to make the sour fruits palatable[citation needed]. It is used to straighten hair.
Medical research
Indian gooseberry has undergone preliminary research, demonstrating in vitro antiviral and antimicrobial properties.[2] There is preliminary evidence in vitro that its extracts induce apoptosis and modify gene expression in osteoclasts involved in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. It may prove to have potential activity against some cancers. One recent animal study found treatment with E. officinalis reduced severity of acute pancreatitis (induced by L-arginine in rats). It also promoted the spontaneous repair and regeneration process of the pancreas occurring after an acute attack.ental preparations of leaves, bark or fruit have shown potential efficacy against laboratory models of disease, such as for inflammation, cancer, age-related renal disease, and diabetes.
,A human pilot study demonstrated a reduction of blood cholesterol levels in both normal and hypercholesterolemic men with treatment.[9] Another recent study with alloxan-induced diabetic rats given an aqueous amla fruit extract has shown significant decrease of the blood glucose, as well as triglyceridemic levels and an improvement of the liver function caused by a normalization of the liver-specific enzyme alanine transaminase activity.
Although fruits are reputed to contain high amounts of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), 445 mg/100g,[11] the specific contents are disputed, and the overall antioxidant strength of amla may derive instead from its high density of tannins.[12] The fruit also contains other polyphenols: flavonoids, kaempferol, ellagic acid and gallic acid.[12][13]
Traditional uses
Medicinal use
In traditional Indian medicine, dried and fresh fruits of the plant are used. All parts of the plant are used in various Ayurvedic/Unani medicine (Jawarish amla) herbal preparations, including the fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers.[14] According to Ayurveda, aamla fruit is sour (amla) and astringent (kashaya) in taste (rasa), with sweet (madhura), bitter (tikta) and pungent (katu) secondary tastes (anurasas).[14] Its qualities (gunas) are light (laghu) and dry (ruksha), the postdigestive effect (vipaka) is sweet (madhura), and its energy (virya) is cooling (shita).[12]
According to Ayurveda, aamla is specific to pitta due to its sweet taste and cooling energy.[14] However, amla is thought to balance vata by virtue of its sour taste, and kapha due to its astringent taste and drying action. It may be used as a rasayana (rejuvenative) to promote longevity, and traditionally to enhance digestion (dipanapachana), treat constipation (anuloma), reduce fever (jvaraghna), purify the blood (raktaprasadana), reduce cough (kasahara), alleviate asthma (svasahara), strengthen the heart (hrdaya), benefit the eyes (chakshushya), stimulate hair growth (romasanjana), enliven the body (jivaniya), and enhance intellect (medhya).[14]
In Ayurvedic polyherbal formulations, Indian gooseberry is a common constituent, and most notably is the primary ingredient in an ancient herbal rasayana called Chyawanprash.[12] This formula, which contains 43 herbal ingredients as well as clarified butter, sesame oil, sugar cane juice, and honey, was first mentioned in the Charaka Samhita as a premier rejuvenative compound.
In Chinese traditional therapy, this fruit is called yuganzi (余甘子), which is used to cure throat inflammation.
Culinary use
Particularly in South India, the fruit is pickled with salt, oil, and spices. Aamla is eaten raw or cooked into various dishes. In Andhra Pradesh, tender varieties are used to prepare dal (a lentil preparation), and amle ka murabbah, a sweet dish indigenous to the northern part of India (where in the berries are soaked in sugar syrup for a long time till they are imparted the sweet flavor); it is traditionally consumed after meals.
Other uses
Popularly used in inks, shampoos and hair oils, the high tannin content of Indian gooseberry fruit serves as a mordant for fixing dyes in fabrics.[14] Amla shampoos and hair oil are traditionally believed to nourish the hair and scalp and prevent premature grey hair.
Brief Introduction of Aonla Cultivation
Aonla is also known as Indian Gooseberry and has Scientific name as Embelica officinalis andbelongs to the family euphorbiaceae, has a high medicinal value.The fruits have the richest source of vitamin C(700mg in 100gm of fruits).It is a highly prolific bearer without much care .Though there are many hybrids available but to name a few are
Banarasi,Chakaiya,Kanchan,francis,krishna,NA6,7,8,9 are found to give good production.It is also considered to be an excellent liver tonic.Ayurvedic medicines like Chyavanprash,Triphalahurna,Brahma rasayan and Madhumehga churna contains essentially Aonla as their ingredients.The Fruit is valued as an antiscorbatic,diuretic ,laxative,antiboitic and anti dysentric.Phyllemblin,obtained from the fruit pulp has been found to have a mild depressant action on central nervous system.It has very good demand for the industries for the preparation of various health care products also like hair oils,dye,shampoo,face creams and tooth powders.
Soil and Land Preparation
Light as well as medium heavy soils except purely sandy soils is ideal for aonla cultivation.The tree is well adopted to dry regions and can also be grown in moderate alkaline soils.The worst of soils upto 9.5pHare also good enough to grow amla.Soils with red ,black with wide range of pH can very well accomodate aonla.Prior to planting ,the fields should be deeply ploughed,harrowed and leveled.The pits above 1metre cube should be dug during the month of May-June at appropriate distance and after 15-20 days of exposure to sun are filled with surface soils mixed with 10 to 15 kg of decomposed farm yard manure.If depression takes place in the pits with onset of rain,more soil should be added.
Climate
Aonla plants can be grown in both Tropical and subtropical climates.Annual rainfall of 630mm-80mm is ideal for its growth.The young plants up to the age of 3years should be protected from hot wind during May -June and from frost during winter months.The mature plants can tolerate freezing temperatures as well as a high temperatures up to 46 degree Centigrade .
Varieties
The varieties of aonla recommended for cultivation are Banarasi,chakaiya,francis,NA-4(Krishna)NA-5(kanchan),NA-6,NA-7,NA-10,BSR-1,Anand 1,2,3
Inputs
Number of seedlings for one acre of area should be 200.The field should be Incorporated with 4 tonnes of Farm yard manure.Fertilizers should be given in the ratio of 90:120:48 of NPK along with elemental sulphur 10 kg and micro nutrients 10 kg per acre .15 kg of FYM and 0.5kg of phosphorus should be applied to each pit before planting.Also application of 30 gram of nitrogen each year during September -October up to 10 years for each tree is recommended.
The young plants should be given 15-20kg of well rotten FYM and the mature trees should be fertilized with 1 kg of Super Phosphate and 1-1.5kg of murate of potash.The above fertilizers should be given in two split doses to mature,bearing tree,once during September-October and gain during April-May.After setting of the fruits the plants needs to be irrigated after fertilizer application.
Cultivation
Propagation
Aonla is generally propagated by shield budding.Budding is done on one year old seedlings with buds collected from superior varieties yielding big sized fruits.Older trees or poor yielders can be changed into superior types by top working.Aonla plant has long been raised from seed and used as rootstock.The seeds attain full maturity by February for which they should be sown in the last week also for getting the higher percentage of germination.The best results were obtained by sowing at the commencement of rainy season and subsequently weeding regularly.Artificial Propagation can also be done by the ripe fruits collected in January and dried in sun dehisce and are swept up and cleaned by winnowing.It is desirable to use fresh seed as the seeds do not retain viability for long.The seeds need hot water treatment(80 degree Celsius) for 5 minutes to hasten germination which takes about 10 days.
Planting
The pits of 1 sq.mt are to be dug during May -June at a distance of 4.5mt x 4.5mt spacing and should be left for 15-20 days exposing to sunlight .Each pit should be filled with surface soil mixed with 15 kg FYM and 0.5 kg of phosphorus before planting the budded seedlings.Healthy grafts or budded plants are planted during rainy season preferably during the early monsoon in July with square system .
Irrigation
Young plants require watering during summer months at 15 days interval till they are fully established.Watering of bearing plants is advised during summer months at bi weekly interval.After the monsoon rains ,during October-December about 25-30 litres of water per day per tree through drip irrigation should be given.
The schedule can also be done as follows
Plants up to 2 years of age -at 10 days interval
Plants up to 4 years of age -at 15 days interval.
Plants after 4 years of age -at 20 days interval.
Training and Pruning
Leaving only 4-5 well shaped branches with wide angle at about 0.75mt from the ground level,other dead,diseased,week criss cross branches and suckers should be pruned off at the end of December .
Mulching and Intercropping
During summer, the crop should be mulched with paddy straw or wheat straw at the base of the tree upto 15-20 cm from the trunk. Inter crops like green gram, black gram, cow pea and horse gram can be grown upto 8 years.
Plant Protection
Major insects which affect the aonla plants are Bark eating caterpillars which can be controlled by following methods
1. Injection of Endosulfan at the ratio of 2ml in 1 litres of water or Monocrotophos 2ml in 1 litre of water or dichlorovos in the ratio of 1.5ml in 1 litre of water in holes and plugging with mud is effective in protecting the tree against bark eating caterpiller.
2. Spraying of Mancozeb in the proportion of 3gm per litre of water twice first in early September and second 15 days after first application controls the spread of rust.
3. Aonla rust can be controlled by spraying blue copper 3 gm per litre of water or combination of Carbendazim and Mancozeb (readilly available in the market)in the ratio of 2gm per litre of water .
Weeding
The seedling or vegetative saplings of Aonla require clean weeding, soil working for about two years for successful establishment and fast growth.This can be very well done by spraying glyphosate in the proportion of 6.5ml in 1 litre of water on the weeds grown upto the height of 6-8 inches.
Precaution should be taken that no directed spray should be on the seedlings or the plants which are grown.
Harvesting and Yield
Aonla tree starts bearing after about 4-5 years of planting.The fruits of Aonla are harvested during the month of february when they become dull greenish yellow from light green colour.The mature fruits are ahrd and they do not fall at gentle touch and therefore vigorous shaking is required.Fruits can also be harvested using long bamboo poles attached with hooks.
A mature Aonla tree of about 10 years will yield 50-70 kg of fruit. The average weight of the fruit is 60-70 g and 1 kg contains about 15-20 fruits.
A well maintained Aonla tree yields up to an age of 70 years.A full grown grafted aonla tree with good bearing habit yields from 187 to 299 kg fruit per year. Average fruit yield is 200kg per grafted tree.
Economics
The demand of aonla fruit by various commercial pharmaceutical companies has taken an upward swing and there is enough incentive for tribals to collect the fruit. The average price offered for green fruits is Rs3 to 4 per kg. Panna aonla is famous for its bold size and absence of fibres
Aonla existed by way of Kayakalp in our country for more than 3000 years ago. We should rediscover the goodness of amla especially at a time when people are turning away from alopathy due to various side-effects. India's present production is around 1.5 lakh tonnes. If by spreading awareness, we can get every Indian to eat one amla a day, we will require2 lakh tones a day. So we can produce300 times the quantity of Aonla we are producing now.
.
Indian gooseberry (amla)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Tribe: Phyllantheae
Subtribe: Flueggeinae
Genus: Phyllanthus
Species: P. emblica
Binomial name
Phyllanthus emblica
Synonyms
Cicca emblica Kurz
Emblica officinalis Gaertn.
Mirobalanus embilica Burm.
Phyllanthus mairei Lév.
Phyllanthus emblica (syn. Emblica officinalis), the Indian gooseberry, or aamla', is a deciduous tree of the Phyllanthaceae family. It is known for its edible fruit of the same name.
•
Plant anatomy and harvesting
The tree is small to medium in size, reaching 8 to 18 m in height, with a crooked trunk and spreading branches. The branchlets are glabrous or finely pubescent, 10–20 cm long, usually deciduous; the leaves are simple, subsessile and closely set along branchlets, light green, resembling pinnate leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit are nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows.
Ripening in autumn, the berries are harvested by hand after climbing to upper branches bearing the fruits. The taste of Indian gooseberry is sour, bitter and astringent, and is quite fibrous. In India, it is common to eat gooseberries steeped in salt water and turmeric to make the sour fruits palatable[citation needed]. It is used to straighten hair.
Medical research
Indian gooseberry has undergone preliminary research, demonstrating in vitro antiviral and antimicrobial properties.[2] There is preliminary evidence in vitro that its extracts induce apoptosis and modify gene expression in osteoclasts involved in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. It may prove to have potential activity against some cancers. One recent animal study found treatment with E. officinalis reduced severity of acute pancreatitis (induced by L-arginine in rats). It also promoted the spontaneous repair and regeneration process of the pancreas occurring after an acute attack.ental preparations of leaves, bark or fruit have shown potential efficacy against laboratory models of disease, such as for inflammation, cancer, age-related renal disease, and diabetes.
,A human pilot study demonstrated a reduction of blood cholesterol levels in both normal and hypercholesterolemic men with treatment.[9] Another recent study with alloxan-induced diabetic rats given an aqueous amla fruit extract has shown significant decrease of the blood glucose, as well as triglyceridemic levels and an improvement of the liver function caused by a normalization of the liver-specific enzyme alanine transaminase activity.
Although fruits are reputed to contain high amounts of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), 445 mg/100g,[11] the specific contents are disputed, and the overall antioxidant strength of amla may derive instead from its high density of tannins.[12] The fruit also contains other polyphenols: flavonoids, kaempferol, ellagic acid and gallic acid.[12][13]
Traditional uses
Medicinal use
In traditional Indian medicine, dried and fresh fruits of the plant are used. All parts of the plant are used in various Ayurvedic/Unani medicine (Jawarish amla) herbal preparations, including the fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers.[14] According to Ayurveda, aamla fruit is sour (amla) and astringent (kashaya) in taste (rasa), with sweet (madhura), bitter (tikta) and pungent (katu) secondary tastes (anurasas).[14] Its qualities (gunas) are light (laghu) and dry (ruksha), the postdigestive effect (vipaka) is sweet (madhura), and its energy (virya) is cooling (shita).[12]
According to Ayurveda, aamla is specific to pitta due to its sweet taste and cooling energy.[14] However, amla is thought to balance vata by virtue of its sour taste, and kapha due to its astringent taste and drying action. It may be used as a rasayana (rejuvenative) to promote longevity, and traditionally to enhance digestion (dipanapachana), treat constipation (anuloma), reduce fever (jvaraghna), purify the blood (raktaprasadana), reduce cough (kasahara), alleviate asthma (svasahara), strengthen the heart (hrdaya), benefit the eyes (chakshushya), stimulate hair growth (romasanjana), enliven the body (jivaniya), and enhance intellect (medhya).[14]
In Ayurvedic polyherbal formulations, Indian gooseberry is a common constituent, and most notably is the primary ingredient in an ancient herbal rasayana called Chyawanprash.[12] This formula, which contains 43 herbal ingredients as well as clarified butter, sesame oil, sugar cane juice, and honey, was first mentioned in the Charaka Samhita as a premier rejuvenative compound.
In Chinese traditional therapy, this fruit is called yuganzi (余甘子), which is used to cure throat inflammation.
Culinary use
Particularly in South India, the fruit is pickled with salt, oil, and spices. Aamla is eaten raw or cooked into various dishes. In Andhra Pradesh, tender varieties are used to prepare dal (a lentil preparation), and amle ka murabbah, a sweet dish indigenous to the northern part of India (where in the berries are soaked in sugar syrup for a long time till they are imparted the sweet flavor); it is traditionally consumed after meals.
Other uses
Popularly used in inks, shampoos and hair oils, the high tannin content of Indian gooseberry fruit serves as a mordant for fixing dyes in fabrics.[14] Amla shampoos and hair oil are traditionally believed to nourish the hair and scalp and prevent premature grey hair.
Brief Introduction of Aonla Cultivation
Aonla is also known as Indian Gooseberry and has Scientific name as Embelica officinalis andbelongs to the family euphorbiaceae, has a high medicinal value.The fruits have the richest source of vitamin C(700mg in 100gm of fruits).It is a highly prolific bearer without much care .Though there are many hybrids available but to name a few are
Banarasi,Chakaiya,Kanchan,francis,krishna,NA6,7,8,9 are found to give good production.It is also considered to be an excellent liver tonic.Ayurvedic medicines like Chyavanprash,Triphalahurna,Brahma rasayan and Madhumehga churna contains essentially Aonla as their ingredients.The Fruit is valued as an antiscorbatic,diuretic ,laxative,antiboitic and anti dysentric.Phyllemblin,obtained from the fruit pulp has been found to have a mild depressant action on central nervous system.It has very good demand for the industries for the preparation of various health care products also like hair oils,dye,shampoo,face creams and tooth powders.
Soil and Land Preparation
Light as well as medium heavy soils except purely sandy soils is ideal for aonla cultivation.The tree is well adopted to dry regions and can also be grown in moderate alkaline soils.The worst of soils upto 9.5pHare also good enough to grow amla.Soils with red ,black with wide range of pH can very well accomodate aonla.Prior to planting ,the fields should be deeply ploughed,harrowed and leveled.The pits above 1metre cube should be dug during the month of May-June at appropriate distance and after 15-20 days of exposure to sun are filled with surface soils mixed with 10 to 15 kg of decomposed farm yard manure.If depression takes place in the pits with onset of rain,more soil should be added.
Climate
Aonla plants can be grown in both Tropical and subtropical climates.Annual rainfall of 630mm-80mm is ideal for its growth.The young plants up to the age of 3years should be protected from hot wind during May -June and from frost during winter months.The mature plants can tolerate freezing temperatures as well as a high temperatures up to 46 degree Centigrade .
Varieties
The varieties of aonla recommended for cultivation are Banarasi,chakaiya,francis,NA-4(Krishna)NA-5(kanchan),NA-6,NA-7,NA-10,BSR-1,Anand 1,2,3
Inputs
Number of seedlings for one acre of area should be 200.The field should be Incorporated with 4 tonnes of Farm yard manure.Fertilizers should be given in the ratio of 90:120:48 of NPK along with elemental sulphur 10 kg and micro nutrients 10 kg per acre .15 kg of FYM and 0.5kg of phosphorus should be applied to each pit before planting.Also application of 30 gram of nitrogen each year during September -October up to 10 years for each tree is recommended.
The young plants should be given 15-20kg of well rotten FYM and the mature trees should be fertilized with 1 kg of Super Phosphate and 1-1.5kg of murate of potash.The above fertilizers should be given in two split doses to mature,bearing tree,once during September-October and gain during April-May.After setting of the fruits the plants needs to be irrigated after fertilizer application.
Cultivation
Propagation
Aonla is generally propagated by shield budding.Budding is done on one year old seedlings with buds collected from superior varieties yielding big sized fruits.Older trees or poor yielders can be changed into superior types by top working.Aonla plant has long been raised from seed and used as rootstock.The seeds attain full maturity by February for which they should be sown in the last week also for getting the higher percentage of germination.The best results were obtained by sowing at the commencement of rainy season and subsequently weeding regularly.Artificial Propagation can also be done by the ripe fruits collected in January and dried in sun dehisce and are swept up and cleaned by winnowing.It is desirable to use fresh seed as the seeds do not retain viability for long.The seeds need hot water treatment(80 degree Celsius) for 5 minutes to hasten germination which takes about 10 days.
Planting
The pits of 1 sq.mt are to be dug during May -June at a distance of 4.5mt x 4.5mt spacing and should be left for 15-20 days exposing to sunlight .Each pit should be filled with surface soil mixed with 15 kg FYM and 0.5 kg of phosphorus before planting the budded seedlings.Healthy grafts or budded plants are planted during rainy season preferably during the early monsoon in July with square system .
Irrigation
Young plants require watering during summer months at 15 days interval till they are fully established.Watering of bearing plants is advised during summer months at bi weekly interval.After the monsoon rains ,during October-December about 25-30 litres of water per day per tree through drip irrigation should be given.
The schedule can also be done as follows
Plants up to 2 years of age -at 10 days interval
Plants up to 4 years of age -at 15 days interval.
Plants after 4 years of age -at 20 days interval.
Training and Pruning
Leaving only 4-5 well shaped branches with wide angle at about 0.75mt from the ground level,other dead,diseased,week criss cross branches and suckers should be pruned off at the end of December .
Mulching and Intercropping
During summer, the crop should be mulched with paddy straw or wheat straw at the base of the tree upto 15-20 cm from the trunk. Inter crops like green gram, black gram, cow pea and horse gram can be grown upto 8 years.
Plant Protection
Major insects which affect the aonla plants are Bark eating caterpillars which can be controlled by following methods
1. Injection of Endosulfan at the ratio of 2ml in 1 litres of water or Monocrotophos 2ml in 1 litre of water or dichlorovos in the ratio of 1.5ml in 1 litre of water in holes and plugging with mud is effective in protecting the tree against bark eating caterpiller.
2. Spraying of Mancozeb in the proportion of 3gm per litre of water twice first in early September and second 15 days after first application controls the spread of rust.
3. Aonla rust can be controlled by spraying blue copper 3 gm per litre of water or combination of Carbendazim and Mancozeb (readilly available in the market)in the ratio of 2gm per litre of water .
Weeding
The seedling or vegetative saplings of Aonla require clean weeding, soil working for about two years for successful establishment and fast growth.This can be very well done by spraying glyphosate in the proportion of 6.5ml in 1 litre of water on the weeds grown upto the height of 6-8 inches.
Precaution should be taken that no directed spray should be on the seedlings or the plants which are grown.
Harvesting and Yield
Aonla tree starts bearing after about 4-5 years of planting.The fruits of Aonla are harvested during the month of february when they become dull greenish yellow from light green colour.The mature fruits are ahrd and they do not fall at gentle touch and therefore vigorous shaking is required.Fruits can also be harvested using long bamboo poles attached with hooks.
A mature Aonla tree of about 10 years will yield 50-70 kg of fruit. The average weight of the fruit is 60-70 g and 1 kg contains about 15-20 fruits.
A well maintained Aonla tree yields up to an age of 70 years.A full grown grafted aonla tree with good bearing habit yields from 187 to 299 kg fruit per year. Average fruit yield is 200kg per grafted tree.
Economics
The demand of aonla fruit by various commercial pharmaceutical companies has taken an upward swing and there is enough incentive for tribals to collect the fruit. The average price offered for green fruits is Rs3 to 4 per kg. Panna aonla is famous for its bold size and absence of fibres
Aonla existed by way of Kayakalp in our country for more than 3000 years ago. We should rediscover the goodness of amla especially at a time when people are turning away from alopathy due to various side-effects. India's present production is around 1.5 lakh tonnes. If by spreading awareness, we can get every Indian to eat one amla a day, we will require2 lakh tones a day. So we can produce300 times the quantity of Aonla we are producing now.
.
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