Chondroprotective Potential of Fruit Extracts of Phyllanthus emblica in Osteoarthritis

Abstract

There is a need for effective nutraceuticals for osteoarthritis care. The fruit of Phyllanthus emblica is used as a powerful rejuvenator in Ayurvedic medicine. This study measured the chondroprotective potential of P. emblica (‘Amalaki’) fruits in vitro. We used aqueous extracts of unprocessed P. emblica fruit powder (powder A), and the powder obtained after hot water extraction and drying of powder A (powder B). Chondroprotection was measured in three different assay systems. First, we tested the effects of both fruit powders on the activities of the enzymes hyaluronidase and collagenase type 2. Second, an in vitro model of cartilage degradation was set-up with explant cultures of articular knee cartilage from osteoarthritis patients. Cartilage damage was assayed by measuring glycosaminoglycan release from explants treated with/without P. emblica fruit powders. Aqueous extracts of both fruit powders significantly inhibited the activities of hyaluronidase and collagenase type 2 in vitro. Third, in the explant model of cartilage matrix damage, extracts of glucosamine sulphate and powder B (0.05 mg/ml) exhibited statistically significant, long-term chondroprotective activity in cartilage explants from 50% of the patients tested. This result is important since glucosamine sulphate is the leading nutraceutical for osteoarthritis. Powder A induced a statistically significant, short-term chondroprotective activity in cartilage explants from all of the patients tested. This is the first study to identify and quantitate new chondroprotective activities of P. emblica fruits. These data provide pilot pre-clinical evidence for the use of P. emblica fruits as a chondroprotective agent in osteoarthritis therapy.

Hyaluronidase Inhibitors: A Biological and Therapeutic Perspective

“…From these pre-clinical results, the authors concluded that TG could be used as a chondroprotective agent in the management of arthritis. Recently, Sumantran et al [191] demonstrated the chondroprotective role of aqueous extracts of unprocessed and processed (hot water extraction of dry fruit powder) dry fruit powder of Phyllanthus emblica. Both the extracts inhibited HAase and collagenase type 2, the ECM degrading enzymes.…”

The antidiarrheal and spasmolytic activities of Phyllanthus emblica are mediated through dual blockade of muscarinic receptors and Ca2+ channels

“…Moreover, it has also been reported to possess antioxidant Reddy et al, 2009), antiaging (Datta et al, 2009), chondroprotective (Sumantran et al, 2008), chemoprotective (Sultana et al, 2008), anti-inflammatory (Sharma et al, 2003;Nicolis et al, 2008), hepatoprotective (Panchabhai et al, 2008), antibacterial (Saeed and Tariq, 2007), antipyretic and analgesic (Perianayagam et al, 2004) activities. Despite the availability of various studies on different aspects of Phyllanthus emblica and a preliminary report showing its efficacy in diarrhea (Perianayagam et al, 2005), it has not been widely studied for the possible mode(s) of action using both the in vivo and in vitro assays, for its medicinal use in hyperactive gut disorders.…”

Indian Ayurvedic Medicines: An Introduction

“…Aqueous extracts of amalaki powder have also been found to inhibit hyaluronidase and collagenase in vitro . In addition, amalaki extract exhibited signifi cant longterm chondroprotective activity in cartilage explants from 50% of the patients tested who suffered from osteoarthritis [26] .…”