Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2014; 3 (2):18-22

ISSN 2278-4136
Phyllanthus Amarus: A Review
JPP 2014; 3 (2):18-22
Received: 09-05-2014 Sonia Verma, Hitender Sharma, Munish Garg
Accepted: 19-05-2014
Abstract
Sonia Verma Herbs have always formed an integral part of human health and are used in the treatment of several human
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, diseases. One of such species which have wide patronage of use is Phyllanthus amarus. This herb is in
Maharshi Dayanand University, traditional medicine for more than 3,000 years. The plant has also served as lead for several experimental
Rohtak-124001, Haryana, India. investigations that explored its phytochemical constituents and pharmacological uses. Present paper
Hitender Sharma
compiles traditional uses, phytoconstituents and pharmacological properties of Phyllanthus amarus.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Maharshi Dayanand University, Keywords: Phyllanthus amarus, traditional uses, chemical constituents, pharmacological properties.
Rohtak-124001, Haryana, India.

Munish Garg 1. Introduction

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Phyllanthus amarus is a plant of the family Euphorbiaceae and has about approximately 800
Maharshi Dayanand University, species which are found in tropical and subtropical countries of the world [1, 2]. The name
Rohtak-124001, Haryana, India. ‘Phyllanthus’ means “leaf and flower” and named so because of its appearance where flower,
fruit and leaf appears fused [3]. Phyllanthus amarus is a branching annual glabrous herb which is
30-60 cm high and have slender, leaf-bearing branchlets, distichous leaves which are subsessile
elliptic-oblong, obtuse, rounded base. Flowers are yellowish, whitish or greenish, auxillary,
males flowers in groups of 1-3 whereas females are solitary. Fruits are depressed-globose like
smooth capsules present underneath the branches and seeds are trigonous, pale brown with
longitudinal parallel ribs on the back [4].
The plant has been found in Philippine, Cuba, Nigeria and among others. In India, Phyllanthus
amarus is widely distributed as a weed in cultivated and waste lands 5.

2. Traditional Uses
Phyllanthus amarus herb has found its traditional usefulness in several health problems such as
diarrhoea, dysentery, dropsy, jaundice, intermittent fevers, urinogenital disorders, scabies and
wounds. Further, these are used in the treatment of kidney problems, urinary bladder
disturbances, pain, gonorrhea, diabetes and chronic dysentery. Topically, it is used for several
skin problems ranging from skin ulcers, sores, swelling and itchiness, wounds, bruises, scabies,
ulcers and sores, edematous swellings, tubercular ulcers, ringworm, scabby and crusty lesions.
Its effect in excretory system is due to its antiurolithic property and is used in the treatment of
kidney/gallstones, other kidney related problems, appendix inflammation and prostate problems
[6-8]
. Because of its efficacy in the field of gastro-intestinal disorders it is used in the treatment of
disorders like dyspepsia, colic, diarrhea, constipation and dysentery. The herb has found use in
several female problems such as in leucorrhoea, menorrhagia and mammary abscess and can act
as galactagogue. The young shoots of plant are administered in the form of an infusion for the
treatment of chronic dysentery. Fresh leaf paste has wound healing capacity and used to cure
white spots on skin & jaundice. The stem juice is also used as wound healers. The whole plant
extract is used in urinary problems & swelling of liver. The root extract is used to cure stomach
pain. The flower paste of plant is applied externally as antidote against snake bite [9-12].

3. Phytochemical Studies
Phyllanthus amarus have numerous phytocompounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins,
Correspondence: lignins, polyphenolic compounds and tetracyclic triterpenoids. Several phytoconstituents
Sohail isolated from this plant are enlisted in Table 1.
Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand 4. Pharmacological Activity
University, Rohtak-124001,
4.1 Anticancer activity
Haryana, India.
The aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus demonstrates potent anticancer activity against 20-
metylcholanthrene (20-MC) induced sarcoma development. The aqueous extract inhibits DNA

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topoisomerase II of mutant cell cultures and inhibited cell cycle activation of carcinogen as well as the inhibition of cell cycle
regulatory enzyme cdc 25 tyrosine phosphatase of Saccharomyces regulators responsible for cancerous growth and DNA repair [23].
cerevisiae. The anticarcinogenic and anti-tumour activity of
Phyllanthus amarus proposed to be inhibition of metabolic

Table 1: Phytochemicals in Phyllanthus amarus

Alkaloids Isobubbialine and Epibubbialine [13]
Geraniin, corilagin, 1,6-digalloylglucopyranoside rutin , quercetin-
Tannins
3-O-glucopyranoside , Amarulone, Phyllanthusiin D & Amariin
[14, 15]
.
Niranthin, Nirtetralin, Phyltetralin, Hypophyllanthin, Phyllanthin,
Lignans demethylenedioxy-niranthin, 5-demethoxy-niranthin, Isolintetralin
[16, 17, 18, 19]
.
Amariin, 1-galloyl-2,3-dehydrohexahydroxydiphenyl (DHHDP)-
glucose, Repandusinic acid, Geraniin, Corilagin, Phyllanthusiin D,
Ellagitannins and flavonoids namely rutin, and quercetin 3-O-glucoside, 1-O-
galloyl-2,4-dehydrohexahydroxydiphenoyl-glucopyranose
elaeocarpusin, repandusinic acid A and geraniinic acid [20, 21] .
Volatile oil Linalool and Phytol [22].
Tritepene (2Z, 6Z, 10Z, 14E 18E, 22E-farnesil farnesol) [19].

4.2 Antiamnesic Activity and evaluated in acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin and
Antiamnesic activity of aqueous extract of leaves and stems of capsaicin-induced licking effects. In acetic acid-induced writhing
Phyllanthus amarus were evaluated for nootropic effects and brain test it was found that all produced significant inhibition of acetic
cholinesterase activity in male Swiss albino mice. Scopolamine and acid-induced abdominal constrictions, with mean ID50 values of
diazepam were used as standard drugs to produce amnesia and 0.3, 1.8, 7.4 and 26.5 mg/kg for Phyllanthus amarus, Phyllanthus
elevated plus maze and passive avoidance paradigm as models for orbiculatus, Phyllanthus fraternus and Phyllanthus stipulatus,
evaluation of cognitive functions. The result reveals a dose respectively. Similarly, in the formalin test, it was observed that the
dependent attenuation of diazepam and scopolamine induced hydroalcoholic extract of four species produced graded inhibition
amnesic deficits and reduction in brain cholinesterase activity. against both phases of formalin-induced licking, inhibition in
Since the reduction in cholinesterase in linked with increase licking being more active in the late phase. Apart from the above
acetylcholine concentration in brain which further is responsible models, hydroalcoholic extract of the species also elicited
for improving memory, provide a rationale to use this therapeutic significant reduction in the capsaicin-induced neurogenic pain. It
potential in the management of patients with cognitive disorders was also observed that hydroalcoholic extract of the Phyllanthus
[24]
. species was less potent and efficacious when given orally
compared to intraperitoneal route [4].
4.3 Antioxidative Activity
The DPPH assay is used to determine antioxidant potential, which 4.5 Antimicrobial activity
is based on the reduction of stable radical DPPH to yellow coloured Antimicrobial activity of ethanol and water extracts of Phyllanthus
diphenyl picryl hydrazine. Thus, the ability of the test samples to amarus were evaluated against the test organisms Salmonella typhi.
quench this radical is a measure of its antioxidative ability. Ethanolic, cold water extract and hot water extract of Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus amarus have powerful antioxidant property which is amarus were employed for antimicrobial evaluation by agar cup
evident from the present study in which phyllanthin and diffusion method which were compared against standard antibiotics
Phyllanthus amarus extract were evaluated. In the experiment, it that were evaluated by disk diffusion method. The result
was observed that the DPPH free radical scavenging activity was demonstrates ethanolic extract to be most potent against the test
concentration dependent and reaches maximum at a concentration bacteria with diameter of 8.0 mm as growth inhibition zone. This
of 20 mol/ml for phyllanthin and 300 g/ml for Phyllanthus amarus study establishes one of the traditional uses of Phyllanthus amarus
extract. Further, since phyllanthin possess very high antioxidative against typhoid fever [26]. In another study, hexane, petroleum
property as evident by its low IC50 value of 7.4 mol/ml as compared ether, chloroform, acetone and methanol extract of Phyllanthus
to Phyllanthus amarus extracts suggest its contribution in leaves were tested for antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas
antioxidative effects [7]. In another study, it has been found that aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis,
boiled water extract of the fresh and dried Phyllanthus amarus Streptococcus faecalis, Enterobacter species, Serratia marcescens,
plant had comparatively greater antioxidant activity than Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by agar well diffusion
microwave assisted extraction method employed for the extraction method. The results demonstrated methanol extract of Phyllanthus
[25]
. amarus for highest inhibitory activity against above bacterial
species [27]. Similarly, in another study antimicrobial potential of
4.4 Antinociceptive Activity Phyllanthus amarus were investigated using agar well diffusion
The hydroalcoholic extract of four Phyllanthus species namely method for activity against several drug resistant pathogens such as
Phyllanthus amarus, Phyllanthus orbiculatus, Phyllanthus Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus
fraternus and Phyllanthus stipulatus were given intraperitoneally and Klebsiella Species. The results revealed minimum inhibitory
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concentration (MIC) of the ethanolic plant extracts on Escherichia free radicals are linked with diabetes, therefore quenching of free
coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomona aeruginosa and radical could be one mechanism of action [40]. However, there is a
Klebsiella Species were at 10 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 150 mg/ml and need of further experimental studies in order to isolate chemical
100 mg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration were at constituents and their mechanism of action.
50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml, 150 mg/ml and 150 mg/ml respectively [10].
Further studies on hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and 4.9 Anti-Inflammatory Activity
methanol extract of stem bark extracts of Phyllanthus amarus The anti-inflammatory potential of Phyllanthus amarus was
demonstrated the antimicrobial activity for all these extracts with a evaluated using different models such as rat Kupffer cells,
diameter that ranges between 11 mm 24 mm against Streptococcus macrophages RAW264.7, human whole blood and in mice. Two
pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia different extracts of Phyllanthus amarus (hexane and ethanol/water
coli, Candidas albican, Aspergillus flavus [8]. The antimicrobial extracts) and their anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated against
activity of the methanolic extract of Phyllanthus amarus as studied the lipopolysaccharide stimulated above mentioned test cells. In
by agar dilution method and disc diffusion showed significant addition, anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in mice that were
concentration-dependent antibacterial activity specifically for treated with galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide for inducing acute
gram-negative microbes. toxic hepatitis. The evaluation parameters were production of
It was also observed that antibacterial action was mainly due to the nitrite, prostaglandin E2 and cytokines that were measured by
isolated phyllanthin [1]. These studies signify the antimicrobial Griess assay, prostaglandin E2 by radioimmunoassay and latter by
potential of Phyllanthus amarus and need of isolation of some enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The other inflammatory
potential phytoconstituents from this species. markers such as endotoxin-induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)
and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) were determined by Western blot
4.6 Antileptospiral Activity and activation of NF-κB and activator protein 1 (AP-1) by
Leptospirosis is globally important disease found mainly wherever electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The results revealed
human come in contact with the urine of infected animals or urine ethanol/water extracts and hexane extracts effective in inhibition of
contaminated environment. Phyllanthus amarus have been liopolysaccharide induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and
investigated for the antileptospiral activity by micro dilution tests prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in Kupffer cells and in macrophages
and tube dilution technique. The results revealed the inhibitory RAW264.7. The extracts also attenuated the lipopolysaccharide
action of methanolic and aqueous extract of whole plant of induced secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in macrophages
Phyllanthus amarus against leptospira [28]. RAW264.7 as well as in human whole blood. Hexane and
ethanol/water extracts of Phyllanthus amarus reduced expression
4.7 Anticonvulsant Activity of endotoxin-induced nitric oxide synthase iNOS and
Epilepsy is a major neurological disorder characterized by the cyclooxygenase COX-2 and inhibited activation of nuclear factor
occurrence of recurrent seizures. The two widely proposed NF-κB. Phyllanthus amarus also inhibited induction of interferon-γ
mechanisms involve alterations in the voltage-dependent ion (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β and interleukin (IL)-10 in human
channels such as reduction in inhibitory GABA-mediated drive or whole blood and reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) production
increase in excitatory glutamate mediated inputs. This chronic in-vivo [33]. Further, experimental studies have been done to
progressive CNS disorder affects a large population of the world. determine the chemical compounds responsible for the activity. In
In search of herbal treatment, aqueous and ethanolic extract of an attempt to test phytoconstituents and extracts of Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus amarus were evaluated for anticonvulsant effect using amarus for anti-inflammatory effect, the purified lignans of
pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and maximal electroshock-induced Phyllanthus amarus and different extracts obtained from this plant
seizures (MES) in swiss albino rats. The result showed ethanolic were evaluated in carrageenan induced paw oedema and neutrophil
and aqueous extract of leaves and stem of Phyllanthus amarus influx model of inflammation. The result showed that hexane
significantly effective in abolishing hind limb extension induced by extract and the lignan-rich fraction, or lignans phyltetralin,
MES as well as PTZ induced seizures [29]. nirtetralin and niranthin inhibited carrageenan-induced rat paw
oedema, lower the increase of interleukin (IL)-1β tissue levels
4.8 Antidiabetic Activity induced by carrageenan and inhibited neutrophil influx, bradykinin
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein activating factor, platelet activating factor and endothelin-1-
and is considered as the world’s largest endocrine disease [30]. The induced paw oedema. These results show that the hexane extract,
antidiabetic potential of Phyllanthus amarus investigated in an the lignan-rich fraction and the lignans niranthin, phyltetralin and
experiment model where fasted rats were made diabetic by single nirtetralin exhibited marked anti-inflammatory properties [34].
intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrates and Another interesting study where anti-inflammatory effect of soft
then two doses of the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract of drink prepared from the leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus was
Phyllanthus amarus administered orally which were then compared evaluated for its anti-inflammatory effect and the result revealed
with the normal control group that received distilled water only. anti-inflammatory activity of soft drink similar to reference
After 15 days treatment the result demonstrates aqueous and compound Ibuprofen [35]. All these studies acknowledge
hydroalcoholic extract of Phyllanthus amarus decrease the blood Phyllanthus amarus as potent anti-inflammatory plant and lignins
glucose level significantly. Serum analysis of the treated as potent phyto-compounds.
experimental animals showed an increase in insulin and reduction
in the malondialdehyde concentration, therefore demonstrated the 4.10 Antifertility Activity
potential antidiabetic property of aqueous and hydroalcoholic Phyllanthus amarus possess antifertility activity. This activity was
extract of Phyllanthus amarus [31]. In another study the methanolic shown in the experimental study where alcoholic extract of
extract of Phyllanthus amarus was found to inhibit lipid Phyllanthus amarus brought changes in 3-beta and 17-beta
perxidation & scavenge hydroxyl and superoxide radicals [32]. Since hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase (HSDs) levels, thereby effecting
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hormonal conversions in the female mice that confirmed by 5. Conclusion

observation of no pregnancy in cohabited normal females and male Phyllanthus amarus herb is widely used Tropical countries
mice [36]. including India. It has significant traditional uses, some of them
have been experimentally established and an attempt has been
4.11 Nephroprotective and cardioprotective activity made to isolate potential chemical constituents and their
Nephroprotective and cardioprotective effect of Phyllanthus mechanism of action. Present review had compiled the traditional
amarus is evident from the study in which methanol extract of uses, pharmacological properties and chemical constituents present,
Phyllanthus amarus leaves caused a significant dose dependent which can be useful information for further study on this plant.
decrease in the levels of total cholesterol, urea, total protein, uric
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