Tamarind in Herbalist: Property of the Tamarindo

Scientific name

Tamarindus indica

Family

Cesalpinaceae

Origin

Tropical Africa

Used Parts

Drug given by the fruit pulp

Chemical constituents

Organic acids (citric, malic, succinic, tartaric);
Polysaccharides;
pectin;
Simple sugars.

Tamarind in Herbalist: Property of the Tamarindo

The most widely used formulation on the market is jam, due to the pleasant sweet taste of the fruit pulp. In therapy, tamarind is used as an osmotic laxative.

Biological activity

Laxative properties are the main activities attributed to tamarind. More in detail, the laxative action carried out is of the osmotic type and is ascribed to the organic acids present inside the pulp of the tamarind fruits.

However, various studies have been carried out on this plant and its extracts to investigate further properties that could be exploited in the medical field in the future.

In this regard, a recent study (2015), conducted in vitro on HepG2 liver cells, showed how the methanolic extract of tamarind leaves is able to exert an antioxidant action on the aforementioned liver cell lines, through the inhibition of lipid peroxidation, the suppression of the production of free radicals containing oxygen (otherwise defined ROS, from the English "Reacting Oxygen Species") and the increase of the activity of enzymes with antioxidant action.

Another animal study confirmed the plant's antioxidant activity. In fact, from this study it emerged that the decoction obtained from the tamarind leaves is able to exert a hepatoprotective action, thanks to its antioxidant activity exercised through the inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Another interesting study, on the other hand, showed that tamarind seed extract can be a potential aid in the treatment of arthritis, thanks to the action taken against the enzymes responsible for cartilage degradation and thanks to the anti-inflammatory activities (decrease in the increased levels of interleukins, TNF-α and COX-2) and antioxidants (decrease in ROS levels) exerted by the same extract.

However, despite the results obtained, the aforementioned medical applications of tamarind have not yet been approved.

Tamarind in folk medicine and homeopathy

The pulp of tamarind fruits has always been used in folk medicine as a remedy to combat constipation, both acute and chronic, and to treat gall bladder and liver disorders.

In Indian medicine, however, the plant is used in the treatment of pharyngitis, fever, stomatitis, hemorrhoids and constipation; as well as being used as a remedy to combat bilious vomiting and alcohol intoxication.

Another interesting unapproved use of tamarind is that which is carried out by desert populations. In fact, these people used to chew their leaves to fight thirst.

Tamarind is also used in homeopathic medicine, where it is used as a remedy for stomach pain.

The amount of homeopathic remedy to be taken can vary from individual to individual, also depending on the type of preparation and the type of homeopathic dilution that is intended to be used.