Staff Reporter :
Amla (Phyllanthus emblica, also known as emblic, emblic myrobalan, myrobalan, Indian gooseberry, Malacca tree, or Amla from Sanskrit Amalaki) is a fruit with full of medicinal amplification, such as ‘Vitamin C’ is selling at Tk 1,000 per kg in different areas in the capital.
Prices of Amla have gone up massively due to rise of demand during the Coronavirus pandemic after doctors asked people to consume food items having vitamin C.
After visiting different markets and super shops in the capital on Sunday it was found that Amla was selling at Tk 850-1,000 per kg. Fifty grams of Amla was selling at Tk 50-60.Ashraful, who sold 50 grams of Amla at Tk 60 in Taltala, Khilgaon, said there is a lot of demand for Amla in the market now due to rise in coronavirus cases in the capital. But he said the supply is inadequate.
As of Sunday, about 27,335 people in Dhaka were infected with coronavirus, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Majnu, who sold 50 grams of Amla at Tk 50 at Sepahibagh in Khilgaon, said the wholesale price of Amla has gone up. Earlier, we sold 100 grams of Amla at Tk 10-20.
Aminur, a trader from Rampura, said the demand for Amla has increased manifold after the sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Dhaka.
Earlier most people used to buy 50 to 100 grams of Amla. Now many people are buying 250 grams to, half a kilo. The supply is less than the demand for Amla in the market. Even before Eid, I have sold 100 grams of Amla for Tk 20-30. Now I am selling for Tk 100.
Amla is being sold at high prices in different markets as well as in supermarkets. At the Shwapno Banasree branch, Amla is being sold at Tk 850 per kg. Amla is being sold at the same price in the Shwapno Khilgaon branch.
Shwapno Banasree branch’s Kawshar Hasan said, “We have now sold Amla at Tk 850 per kg.”
Earlier, Amlas cost was Tk 300 per kg. Asked why the price has gone up so much now, he said it was Tk 300 two months ago. Now it is not available. Maybe that’s why the price is march higher.
Amla’s has various uses and medicinal multiplication for numerous diseases like Liver problem, Juandice, stomach problem, anemia, cold and cough. It is also used for strengthening the hair follicles, reducing hair fall and stop pins hair ripening in the young age.
Being full of various qualities, Amla is appreciated by people of all walks of life. As a result, there is an additional demand for it among all men and women. According to nutritionists, Amla contain 10 times more vitamin C than guava and 3 times more vitamin C than lemon. In addition, Amla contain 15-20 times more vitamin C than oranges, 120 times more apples, 24 times more mangoes and 60 times more bananas. An older person needs 30 mg of vitamin C every day. This amount of vitamin ‘C’ comes from eating two Amla a day.
Meanwhile, in the era of epidemic, experts have suggested eating vitamin C-rich fruits to boost the body’s resistance. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system against harmful germs. Vitamin C also helps the oxidant scavenging process in the skin.
Vitamin C helps to increase the production of neutrophils and chemotaxis, phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species. It even increases the rate of destruction of microorganisms. It removes dead cells and uses neutrophils from the site of infection by macrophages through the process of apoptosis. This reduces the amount of necrosis and potentially damaged tissue.
An article was recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The article analyzed a study of 167 patients with ARDS. In that study, 15 grams of intravenous (ivy) vitamin C were given to the patients per day for four consecutive days. As a result, the death rate has dropped significantly. Another study report on 50 patients with corona in China has been published. In that study, a high dose of vitamin C successfully increased the rate of oxygenation. All patients eventually recovered.
