From orchard to bedside: Prospective, real-world study exploring the utility of Indian gooseberry (amlaki) in end stage hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, despite significant advances in its treatment. In Bangladesh, as in many other countries, most patients present at an advanced stage when curative options are no longer feasible. Therefore, it is essential to explore locally available, homegrown solutions to address this growing health challenge. A total of sixty patients with end-stage HCC were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned into 2 groups, each comprising 30 patients. Both groups received best supportive care. In addition, patients in Group A were received 1000 mg of Phyllanthus emblica extract in powder formulation in capsules. The study included drug collection, preparation, extraction, protein isolation, molecular docking, data analysis, and ultimately a clinical trial. The baseline characteristics of patients in both groups were comparable. The findings demonstrated a survival benefit and improvement in quality of life among patients treated with Phyllanthus emblica compared to the control group; however, these results were not statistically significant. Overall, the study established the safety and suggested limited efficacy of Phyllanthus emblica in patients with end-stage HCC. These findings may well pave the way for future research on repurposing and repositioning traditional medicines into modern medical practice.

J. Bangladesh Acad. Sci. 50(1); 59-69: March 2026