Assessment of Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Effects of Phyllanthus emblica Extract in a Reserpine-Induced Oxidative Stress Model

Amla (Phyllanthus emblica), a nutrient-rich medicinal plant, is renowned for its high antioxidant content, therapeutic properties, and traditional use in Ayurveda to promote health and combat various ailments. This study aimed to determine its total phenol content, antioxidant activity, and mitigating impacts on oxidative stress in an animal model. Total phenol content and antioxidant activity were evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods, respectively. The in vivo study involved 30 female Swiss albino mice subjected to reserpine-induced oxidative stress and treated with varying doses of amla extract (1, 1.5, and 2 mL/kg body weight), with clomipramine as a positive control. In vivo results demonstrated dose-dependent improvements in behavioral (Forced swimming test and tail suspension test immobility time), biochemical (Malondialdehyde and blood glucose), and morphological (brain and adrenal gland weight) parameters. Notably, amla extract significantly attenuated reserpine-induced behavioral despair, reduced lipid peroxidation, and restored brain weight in a dose-dependent manner, indicating marked neuroprotective effects. These findings highlight Bangladeshi-grown amla as a potent natural antioxidant with significant neuroprotective potential in chemically induced oxidative stress, supporting its traditional medicinal use and its possible role in stress-related neurological disorders.