A Brief Review on Pharmacological Potential of Tamarindus indica

Tamarindus indica is a leguminous monotypic genus plant belonging to the subfamily Caesalpiniaceae of the family Fabaceae commonly known as the Tamarind tree. It is a long-lived evergreen tree native to southern Asian and African continents. These trees are slowly growing, massive tree. They can grow under varied climatic conditions and environmental modifications. The tree can attain a maximum of 24m height and 7m girth, it bears pale yellow and pink flowers. Tamarindus indica is extensively used as traditional medicine in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and in most of the tropical countries. Almost every part Tamarindus indica plant consists numerous nutritional and medicinal value. Tamarind possesses various essential amino acids and phytochemical constituents which exhibit pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-nephrotoxic and hepatoprotective activity. Tamarind has been used for centuries as a traditional medicinal plant which has often been reported as curative in several ethnomedical applications.