Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is an edible pod-like fruit which is used not in cuisines across the world but is also a traditional medicine in many countries.
3. Tamarind
Common fruit tree of the tropics
Family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) comprising
700 genera and 17,000 species
Valuable timber species
Hermaphroditic plant with bisexual flowers
Pollinated by honey bees
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4. Tamarind
Tall, spreading tree life 60 – 150 years
Compound leaves for shade
Long bean pods with brittle brown shells
Unripe – shell greenish brown
When ripe – shell reddish brown
1 kg of fruit contains – 1000 seeds in India
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6. One tree produce 150 – 800 kg of fruits
annually with 30 – 35 % pulp, 11 – 30 %
shells and fiber, 33 – 40 % seeds
Leaves are an important source of food
and herbal medicine
Seeds are a cheap source of protein
Tamarind
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7. Edible pulp of ripe fruit is used as
flavouring agent in soups, jams, chutneys,
sauces and juices
The fruit pulp richest natural source of
Tartaric acid (8 – 18 %)
Tamarind
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9. Important material used in sizing of
textiles, paper, pickles and paste
Tamarind juice rich in protein and a cheap
source of protein to alleviate protein
malnutrition widespread in many countries
Tamarind
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10. Food value of tamarind*
Ingredient Pulp (ripe)
Calories 115
Moisture 28 – 52 g
Protein 3.10 g
Carbohydrates 67.4g
Calcium 35 – 170 mg
Iron 1.3 – 10.9 mg
Potassium 375 mg
Tartaric acid 8 – 23.8 mg
* 100 gmPPRC/INDIA 09
12. To cool body system and cleanse the blood
The pulp is used in Chinese medicine
Leaves and roots contain vitexin,
glycosides, isovitexin orientin, isoorentin
and primary amines
Healing power of tamarind
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14. Medicinal uses of tamarind
Fruit pulp used as gentle laxative
To improve loss of appetite
Pulp in combination with lime juice, honey,
milk, dates, spices used as digestive
Decoction of dried fruit is taken orally for
fevers
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16. Medicinal uses of tamarind
It is known to restore sensation in paralysis
The use of pulp in dysentery treatment and
as a food in food scarce periods
It is used as gargle in sore throats dressing
of wounds (Chaturvedi 1985)
Powdered seeds – paste used in boils
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17. Medicinal uses of tamarind
Tamarind used in treatment of following
ailments:
- alleviation of sunstroke
- datura poisoning
- intoxicating effect of alcohol and
“ganja” Cannabis sativa L.
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18. Medicinal uses of tamarind
In Brazil, fruit pulp and leaf are regarded as
purgative, diaphoretic and emollient
Pulp is applied to heal inflammations, sore
throat and rheumatism
In West Indies fruit pulp is taken orally as
laxative
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20. Medicinal uses of tamarind
Hot water extract of dried fruit is taken
orally as a sudorific, febrifuge infections of
urinary tract, skin and mucosa
In India, fruit juice mixed with Calotropis
gigantea latex is taken orally to relieve
menstrual pains
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21. Medicinal uses of tamarind
In Sudan, dried fruit pulp is taken orally as
a purgative, for malaria and for bacterial
infections
Fruits contain 1-10 seeds which are hard
reddish and shiny
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22. Medicinal uses of tamarind
Seed powder is used as externally applied
on eye diseases and ulcers
Boiled pounded seeds are reported to
treat ulcers, bladder stones and powdered
seed husks are used to treat diabetes
(Rama Rao 1975)
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24. Medicinal uses of tamarind
The seed with Cumin seed and palm sugar
for treatment of Chronic diarrhoea,
dysentry and jaundice
The leaves mixed with salt and water are
used to treat throat infections, cough, fever,
intestinal worms, urinary & liver troubles
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25. Medicinal uses of tamarind
In Tanzania decoction of dried leaves is
taken orally to treat malaria (Gessler et. al.
1994)
A sweetened decoction is used in the
Philippines as a cough remedy
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26. Medicinal uses of tamarind
Leaf juice is used for treating encephalitis
Bark is used to recover loss of sensation
due to paralysis
The bark with water has been used in the
treatment of sore throat
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28. Medicinal uses of tamarind
Bark is used as tonic, lotions or poultices
to relieve sores, ulcers, boils and rashes in
the Philippines and Eastern Sudan (Dalziel
1937)
An infusion of the roots is believed to have
curative value in chest complaints
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29. Medicinal uses of tamarind
A poultice of flowers is used in the
treatment of eye diseases, conjunctivitis in
the Philippines (De Padua et. al. 1978)
Flowers are used as a remedy for jaundice,
bleeding piles, to cure eye diseases and skin
ulcers
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30. Medicinal uses of tamarind
Tamarind leaves and flowers dried or
boiled are used as poultices for swollen
joints, sprains and boils
Lotions and extracts made from tamarind
are used in treating conjunctivitis as
antiseptics, as vermifuges
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32. Medicinal uses of tamarind
Treatments for dysentery, jaundice, eye
sipelas and haemorrhoids
An infusion of leaves is believed to be an
ingredient in prescription of leprosy
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