Botanical name: Phyllanthus emblica L.
Family name: EUPHORBIACEAE
Thai name: Ma-Kham-Pom

Emblic (Emblic myrobalan, Indian gooseberry, Malacca Tree) is a deciduous tree, native to India and the Middle East. Now, it is spread in the tropical and temperature zones worldwide, especially in India.

In Thai traditional medicine, the fresh fruit is used as an antitussive and expectorant. The dried fruit is used as an astringent, an antidiarrheal, an antidysenteric and a remedy of hemorrhoid. The leaves are used as a remedy of prickly heat.

In research, the dried fruit extract of emblic produces skin whitening agent. Moreover, its properties are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and anti-oxidant.

The active ingredients from the emblic fruit are polyphenolic compounds such as gallic acid, corilagin, chubulagic acid, elaeocarpusin and putranjivain A.

In cosmetics, the Emblic extract is used as a skin lightener, after sun care products and stretch mark reduction products.