tamarind
Tamarindus indica · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (923 studies) · ★★★★★
Tamarind, scientifically known as Tamarindus indica, is a versatile tropical tree celebrated for its potent medicinal properties. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, its tangy fruit and leaves are used traditionally to aid digestion, manage blood pressure, and reduce inflammation, making it a vital staple in holistic healing.
Names
Common Names
- tamarind
- Tamarind Tree
- Tormon
- Indian tamarind
- kilytree
- Tetul
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Tamarindo
- Tamarindus erythraea
- Tamarindus somalensis
- tamarindo
- Tamarindo africano
German:
- Tamarindenbaum
- Tamarinden-Baum
- Tamarinde
- Tamarindenbaum
French:
- Tamarinier
- tamarin
- tamarinier
- tamarindier
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Tamarindus indicaSynonyms
- Tamarindus occidentalis
- Tamarindus somalensis
- Tamarindus indica var. emarginata
- Cavaraea elegans
- Tamarindus erythraeus
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Tamarindus | 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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Tamarindus indica, offers various therapeutic benefits through several of its different anatomical components. The leaves, often referred to as the leaf in singular form, are frequently utilized in traditional remedies for their cooling properties and ability to treat inflammation. The stem bark is also highly valued, often prepared as a decoction to aid in digestive issues or to reduce fever. Additionally, the fruits serve as a primary source of nutrition and medicine, providing a tart pulp used to alleviate various ailments. Even the seeds play a role in medicinal applications, often being processed to treat skin conditions or digestive distress.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | Dakar medical (and other 6 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| seed | African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stem bark | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fruit pulp | Genetics and molecular research : GMR (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| fruits | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Lasers in medical science (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| bark | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf tips | Pharmacognosy reviews (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pulp | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Tamarindus indica has 175 reported phytochemicals identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Lupeol, phenol, Antioxidants, Saponins.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Lupeol | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| phenol | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidants | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Saponins | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Tannins | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| naringenin | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Epicatechin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-Acetyl furan | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoids
- Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
- Natural product research
- Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
- Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
- Integrative medicine research
View 1 additional sources
- Frontiers in nutrition
Lupeol
- Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
- Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
- Frontiers in pharmacology
phenol
- Dr. Duke
- Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology
- Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
Antioxidants
- Lasers in medical science
- Frontiers in nutrition
Saponins
- Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
- Integrative medicine research
Tannins
- Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
- Integrative medicine research
naringenin
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
- Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
(-)-Epicatechin
- Dr. Duke
1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid
- Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
2-Acetyl furan
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Tamarindus indica has 552 reported activities identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antiviral.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 4 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antiviral | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | Lasers in medical science (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimalarial | Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Lasers in medical science (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antitubercular | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Tamarindus indica has 45 reported medicinal uses identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, malaria, wound healing, Staphylococcus aureus, antidiabetic.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| inflammation | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| malaria | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| wound healing | Plants (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Journal of food science (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| arthritis | Scientific reports (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | Journal of food protection (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | Scientific reports (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aeromonas hydrophila | Journal of food science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Bacillus cereus | Journal of food science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| ethanolic extract | Annales pharmaceutiques francaises (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts | Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit pulp extract | Genetics and molecular research : GMR (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Crude aqueous and ethanol extracts | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts of leaves | Dakar medical (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hydroethanolic seed coat extract | Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Jamu | Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Methanol extracts from the leaves | Arquivos de gastroenterologia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Water extract of the fruits | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| alcoholic extracts of stem barks | Acta poloniae pharmaceutica (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |