THE HEALTH-PROTECTING VALUE OF PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA L. AND ITS PROSPECTS FOR EXPLOITATION AND UTILIZATION
余甘子的保健价值及开发利用前景

Phyllanthus emblica L. that distributes extensively in the mountainous and semimountainous areas of southern China is a species of wild or cultivated fruit tree with medical value. It has plentiful nutrition and is high in vitamin C. content. The research results of external simulation test, animal test, human body test and clinical test in disease area have shown that the fruit juice of phyllanthus emblica L. can block the synthesis of N-nitrosocompound, which is a strong carcinogen in human body. The block rate is more than 90% and is 3-4 times higher than that of V. C of the same concentration. It is also discovered that the juice contains superoxide dismutase (SOD). The activity of SOD is 964. 28 units per millimetre of fresh juice. The activity of SOD in blood can increase 1. 5 times after an old man drinks the juice for 2 months. So the juice has evident effect in resisting cancer and slowing down senescence. China is very rich in phyllanthus emblica L. resource and using its fruits to treat disease has long been a custom of the people. So its fruits have great exploitation value. This paper expounds in detail the health-protecting value of phyllanthus emblica L. and introduces briefly the present conditions and prospects of its exploitation and utilization.