Cancer Chemopreventive Potential of Indian Gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica)

Abstract

Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica) is enriched with different phytochemicals, such as tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenes saponins, sterol, phenylpropanoids and phenol. These phytochemicals show cancer chemopreventive effects at various stages of carcinogenesis, including initiation, promotion, and progression via diverse mechanisms. During the initiation stage, the phytochemicals in Indian gooseberry can modulate Phase I and / or Phase II xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme activities. Furthermore, their active ingredients influence either cell proliferation or induction of cell apoptosis when initiated cells are transformed into benign tumors. The cancer chemopreventive agents in Indian gooseberry also inhibit matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzyme activities to prevent cancer cells spreading to other target organs. This article discusses cancer chemopreventive mechanisms of phytochemical compounds contained in Indian gooseberry at various stages of carcinogenesis. It is expected that Indian gooseberry will be one of the chemopreventive fruits used for further cancer prevention approaches.