Medicinal uses & pharmacological activity of Tamarindus indica

Abstract

Tamarindus indica Linn is belonging to the family Fabaceae, commonly known as tamarind. It is indigenous to tropical Africa and exotic to Asia and Central America. India and Thailand are the major tamarind world producers and generating 300,000 and 140,000 tons annually, respectively. There are two main types of tamarind: sour (the most common) and sweet (mostly comes from Thailand). Tamarind can be eaten fresh (ripe or unripe) and it can be consumed processed into different products. It grows as a large tree and is found in all medicinal system for a number of diseases, these includes its usefulness in jaundice, in liver, complains, as an acid refrigerant, as a gentle laxative, in yellow fever, as a blood tonic, and as a skin cleanser. It contains invert sugar, citric acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, volatile oils (geraniol, limonene), pipecolic acid, lupeol, orientin, vitamin B3, vitamin C, vitexin, phenylalanine, leucine, potassium, Campesterol, β-amyrin, β-sitosterol, Tannins, saponins, glycosides. It has various pharmacological activity like hypolipidemic, weight reducing, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, anthelmintic, antioxidant, analgesic & anti-inflammatory etc. This will be helpful to create interest towards Tamarind and in developing new formulations with more therapeutic and economical value.