tamarind

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• tamarind
• Tamarind Tree
• Tormon
• Indian tamarind
• kilytree
• Tetul

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tamarindus occidentalis
• Tamarindus somalensis
• Tamarindus indica var. emarginata
• Cavaraea elegans
• Tamarindus erythraeus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is completed within the genus Tamarindus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions. In Northern Africa, it can be found growing in both Egypt and Libya. Its presence extends into the Macaronesia region, specifically within Cape Verde. Furthermore, the species is established in West Tropical Africa. Within this tropical zone, it is documented in both Benin and Burkina.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tamarindus indica is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, spanning from sea level at 0 m AMSL up to a maximum elevation of 1250 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to various environmental conditions, frequently establishing itself within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), where it often integrates into human-modified landscapes, gardens, and cultivated settings.

Elevational range max:

1250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Tamarindus indica is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist and thrive across many decades, sometimes even centuries. As a phanerophyte, the plant directs its growth upward into a substantial tree form, maintaining its reproductive and vegetative structures well above the ground level. Throughout its life cycle, it exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its lush, green foliage for the majority of the year, which facilitates continuous photosynthetic activity and supports its long-term survival in tropical and subtropical environments.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tamarindus indica is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a tree. As a terrestrial organism, it grows independently without being an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant height variations, with a minimum recorded height of 5 m, a maximum of 25 m, and a mean plant height of approximately 16.67 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

16.6666666666667 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tamarindus indica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits specific foliar dimensions, with individual leaflets typically ranging in length from a minimum of 4.5 cm to a maximum of 12.5 cm, while their width varies between 1.6 cm and 3.5 cm. In terms of water storage and morphological adaptation, the species does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue density. Furthermore, Tamarindus indica functions as a nitrogen fixer, a physiological trait that allows it to enhance soil fertility and sustain its own nutritional requirements through biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

12.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4.5 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tamarindus indica is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects. The plant produces red flowers arranged in inflorescences that vary in length from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.3 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry fruits that can reach a maximum length of 20 cm and a maximum width of 3 cm, with a minimum width of 1.8 cm. These fruits contain a significant number of seeds, typically ranging from 11 to 100 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are characterized by a minimum length of 13 mm and a maximum length of 17 mm, a minimum width of 11 mm, and a maximum width of 14 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds range from a minimum of 0.37687 g to a maximum of 1.1364 g, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.903817143 g. The seed volume is consistent at 1200 mm³, representing both the minimum, maximum, and mean values. Finally, the dispersal of the species is characterized as anthropochorous, involving human-mediated movement.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

red

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

20 cm

Fruit length min:

6 cm

Fruit width max:

3 cm

Fruit width min:

1.8 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.3 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.03 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

17 mm

Seed length min:

13 mm

Seed mass max:

1.1364 g

Seed mass mean:

0.903817143 g

Seed mass min:

0.37687 g

Seed volume max:

1200 mm³

Seed width max:

14 mm

Seed width min:

11 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tamarindus indica has 6 reported plant parts identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, seed, stem, flower.

Leaf

1. Dakar medical
2. Scientific reports
3. Natural product research
4. Arquivos de gastroenterologia
5. Toxicology reports

Fruit

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Genetics and molecular research : GMR
3. Scientific reports
4. PloS one
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
2. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
3. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Natural product research
3. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
4. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Chemicals

Tamarindus indica has 175 reported phytochemicals identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Lupeol, phenol, Antioxidants, Saponins.

Flavonoids

1. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
2. Natural product research
3. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
4. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
5. Integrative medicine research

Lupeol

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

phenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
3. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidants

1. Lasers in medical science
2. Frontiers in nutrition

Saponins

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Integrative medicine research

Tannins

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Integrative medicine research

naringenin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Dr. Duke

1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

2-Acetyl furan

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Tamarindus indica has 552 reported activities identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antiviral.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
3. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry
4. Scientific reports

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Lasers in medical science
3. Scientific reports

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Lasers in medical science
3. Scientific reports

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. BioMed research international

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Integrative medicine research

Antifungal

1. Lasers in medical science
2. Scientific reports

Antimalarial

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Lasers in medical science
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitubercular

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Conditions

Tamarindus indica has 45 reported investigations on conditions identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, malaria, wound healing, Staphylococcus aureus, antidiabetic.

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Scientific reports
3. Pharmacognosy reviews

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Pharmacognosy reviews

Wound healing

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice
3. Pharmacognosy reviews

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Journal of food science
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Arthritis

1. Scientific reports
2. Integrative medicine research

Diarrhea

1. Journal of food protection
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Oxidative stress

1. Scientific reports
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Aeromonas hydrophila

1. Journal of food science

Bacillus cereus

1. Journal of food science

Preparations

Tamarindus indica has 23 reported preparations identified across 26 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract, extracts, fruit pulp extract, Crude aqueous and ethanol extracts, Extracts of leaves.

Ethanolic extract

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Extracts

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Heliyon

Fruit pulp extract

1. Genetics and molecular research : GMR
2. PloS one

Crude aqueous and ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts of leaves

1. Dakar medical

Hydroethanolic seed coat extract

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Jamu

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Methanol extracts from the leaves

1. Arquivos de gastroenterologia

Water extract of the fruits

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Alcoholic extracts of stem barks

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica