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Bhumyamalaki

Phyllanthus fraternus

Bhumyamalaki (Phyllanthus fraternus) is a plant drug, from the Phyllanthaceae family.

Key facts
Botanical namePhyllanthus fraternus
Identity sourceAyurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. I: TAMALAKI (Root, Stem & Leaf)
Also calledPhyllanthus amarus Schumach. & Thonn. (reported in the literature)
Phyllanthus niruri L. (misapplied name)
FamilyPhyllanthaceae · other entries in this family
OrderMalpighiales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 5381498 · Wikidata Q15451978 · NCBI Taxonomy 427278
Names in other languages
Sanskritभूम्यामलकी (bhūmyāmalakī)
Tamilகீழா நெல்லி, கீழாநெல்லி

Sources: DDSA: University of Madras Tamil Lexicon, Kīḻānelli (கீழாநெல்லி); Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs', Kila-nelli [கீழாநெல்லி] = Phyllanthus fraternus G.L.Webster.; Wisdom Library 'Local Names of Plants and Drugs': 'Kila-nelli [கீழாநெல்லி] in the Tamil language is the name of a plant identified with Phyllanthus fraternus G.L.Webster'; the same entry also maps it to Phyllanthus amarus. DDSA: University of Madras Tamil Lexicon gives Kīḻānelli = Phyllanthus niruri.; wisdomlib: 'Bhūmyāmalakī (भूम्यामलकी) — another name for Tāmalakī (Phyllanthus amarus)', from the 7th-century Mādhavacikitsā (Jvaracikitsā); Apte quotes Bhāvaprakāśa: स्याद् भूम्यामलकी तिक्ता कषाया मधुरा हिमा. Attested for P. amarus, the same taxonomic complex as P. fraternus.. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 1999 to 2025, 11 with a DOI.

  • 1Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 11Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishBhumyamalaki

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)Tikta, Kashaya, MadhuraPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Laghu, RukshaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)MadhuraPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Tablet, Capsule, Kashayam (decoction), Swarasa (fresh juice), Syrup, Kwath Ghana (solid extract)

Standard Dosage: 3-6g powder twice daily; 500mg standardized extract capsule twice daily; 10-20ml juice; 50-100ml decoction twice daily

Optimal Timing: Before meals on empty stomach for hepatoprotective effect; morning and evening; with warm water

Storage: Cool, dry place away from light and moisture. Capsules in blister packs. Syrup in amber glass bottles. Temperature below 30°C.

Marker Compounds: Phyllanthin, Hypophyllanthin, Niranthin, Phyltetralin, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Corilagin, Quercetin, Astragalin

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Kutki (Picrorhiza) for enhanced hepatoprotective activity
  • With Bhringraj for liver support formulations
  • With Kalmegh (Andrographis), traditionally combined in liver formulations
  • With Guduchi for immune-hepatic synergy
  • With Punarnava for hepato-renal protection

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews1

  1. Pratima H, Shiraguppi A, Joojagar P and others. 2025. Phytochemical profile and hepatoprotective potentiality of Phyllanthus genus: a reviewThe Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology. PMID 38642916 · doi:10.1093/jpp/rgae040

Laboratory and animal studies11

  1. Das J, Somabattini RA, Chhabra N and others. 2025. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics based investigation of Phyllanthus fraternus: herb-drug interaction studyJournal of biomolecular structure & dynamics. PMID 38069602 · doi:10.1080/07391102.2023.2291167
  2. Patil R, Nadaf R, Kumbar V and others. 2024. In vitro Evaluation of Anti-obesity Potential of Phyllanthus Fraternus LeavesArchives of Razi Institute. PMID 39463720 · doi:10.32592/ARI.2024.79.2.395
  3. Parmar FP, George LB, Highland HN. 2020. Phyllanthus fraternus manifests potent anti-proliferative activity on cultured Daudi cellsJournal of cancer research and therapeutics. PMID 32362612 · doi:10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_429_17
  4. Ali A, Jameel M, Ali M. 2016. New fatty acid and acyl glycoside from the aerial parts of Phyllanthus fraternus WebsterJournal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences. PMID 26957868 · doi:10.4103/0975-7406.164292
  5. Singh S, Lata S, Tiwari KN. 2015. Antioxidant potential of Phyllanthus fraternus Webster on cyclophosphamide induced changes in sperm characteristics and testicular oxidative damage in miceIndian journal of experimental biology. PMID 26665295
  6. Upadhyay R, Chaurasia JK, Tiwari KN and others. 2014. Antioxidant property of aerial parts and root of Phyllanthus fraternus Webster, an important medicinal plantTheScientificWorldJournal. PMID 24587744 · doi:10.1155/2014/692392
  7. Upadhyay R, Kashyap SP, Singh CS and others. 2014. Ex situ conservation of Phyllanthus fraternus Webster and evaluation of genetic fidelity in regenerates using DNA-based molecular markerApplied biochemistry and biotechnology. PMID 25172059 · doi:10.1007/s12010-014-1175-9
  8. Lata S, Singh S, NathTiwari K and others. 2014. Evaluation of the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect of Phyllanthus fraternus against a chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamideApplied biochemistry and biotechnology. PMID 24993488 · doi:10.1007/s12010-014-1018-8
  9. Upadhyay R, Tiwari KN, Singh K. 2013. High frequency shoots regeneration for mass multiplication of Phyllanthus fraternus Webster--an important antiviral and hepatoprotective plantApplied biochemistry and biotechnology. PMID 23446983 · doi:10.1007/s12010-013-0157-7
  10. Kumari KK, Setty OH. 2012. Protective effect of Phyllanthus fraternus against mitochondrial dysfunction induced by co-administration of cisplatin and cyclophosphamideJournal of bioenergetics and biomembranes. PMID 22362056 · doi:10.1007/s10863-012-9423-6
  11. Padma P, Setty OH. 1999. Protective effect of Phyllanthus fraternus against carbon tetrachloride-induced mitochondrial dysfunctionLife sciences. PMID 10374905 · doi:10.1016/s0024-3205(99)00195-2

Reference lists that include it

Ellagic acid, Gallic acid, Quercetin

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.