BHU-AAMALAKI

Botanical Source : Bhumiaamalaki consists of fresh green or  dried  whole plant of Phyllanthus amarus.
Other allied species : P. niruri Linn.; P. urinaria Lin.. 
Family : Euphorbiaceae
Ayurvedic Classification :
Sanskrit Synonyms :  Bhoomyaamalaki, Bahupatri, Bhoodhaatri, Bahuphala, Taamalaki, Shiva, Bahuveerya, Ajata
Common Names :
Gujarati : Bhoyin-amvali;
Bengali : Bhuin-amla;
Unani : Bhui- Aaamalaa;
Siddha/Tamil : Keelkaay Nelli.
Botanical Description :

Habitat: Throughout the hotter parts of India, particularly on cultivated land, up to 1,000 m.
Chemical Constituents:
The leaves yielded lignans—phyllanthin (bitter), hypophyllanthin (nonbitter); niranthin, nirtetralin and phyltetralin. The whole plant gave a number of flavonoids, including quercetin, quercitrin, astragalin, rutin, kaempferol. Isolation of a hydrolysable tannins, amarulone, is reported from the plant.
P. amarus contains numerous lignin derivatives such as phyllanthin (0.5), hypophylanthin (0.2%), nyrphyllin, nirurin, phyllnirurin, hydoxyniranthin, lintetralin, seco-4-hydroxylintetralin and also seco-isolariciresinol trimethyl ether. Two new alkaloidal compounds ent-norsecurinine, 4-methyl norsecurinine, sububbialine and epibubbialine have also been reported from the aerial parts of the herb. The herb also contains hydrolysable tannins viz., phyllanthusiin D, amariin, amarulone, amarinic acid and elaeocarpusin. Tetracyclic triterpenoids such as phyllanthenol, phyllanthenone and phyllantheol have also been reported from the herb.
Ayurvedic Properties :
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya, Madhura.
Guna : Laghu, Ruksha.
Veerya : Sheeta.
Vipaka : Madhura.
Dosha-karma: Kaphapittashamaka
Action
Plant: diuretic, deobstruent, astringent, anti-inflammatory, styptic.
Used as a single drug in the treatment of jaundice.
Used in prescriptions for dyspepsia, indigestion, chronic dysentery, urinary tract diseases, diabetes, skin eruptions.
Pharmacological Activities :
The plant is reported to show antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus and related hepadna virus. It was also found to effectively repair CCl₄-induced liver damage in rats.
The herb exhibited hypotensive and hypoglycaemic activity. (Indian J Exp Biol 1995, 33 (11) 861–864.)
The Lignans derivativesviz., phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin are reported to be responsible for the hepatoprotective activity (Rangari 2004).
Phyllanthus fraternus Webster: The ethanolic extract of the plant exhibited hepatotoxic-protective activity in albino rats pretreated with CCl₄, The petroleum extract is reported to possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The flavonoids, isolated from the ethanolic extract of the plant, exhibit hypoglycaemic activity in alloxan-treated albino rats. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the plant exhibit antibacterial and antifungal activity. The alcoholic extract of the drug have demonstrated contraceptive properties. The drug is also shown significant diuretic and hypotensive activity on the patients during trials.
Part(s) Used: whole plant.
Dosage:
Juice 10-20ml;
3-6 gm. Powder (API, Vol. I and III).
Formulations: