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.

1. Healing power
of
TAMARIND
Tamarindus indica

2. Tamarind
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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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5. Tamarind tree
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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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8. Tamarind fruit
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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

11. Food value of tamarind
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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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13. Properties of tamarind
 Cathartic
 Astringent
 Febrifuge
 Anti-septic
 Anti-fungal
 Anti-
inflammatory
 Anti-bacterial
(Limyati 1998 De et. al. 1999)
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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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15. Tamarind fruit pulp
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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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19. Tamarind leaves
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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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23. Tamarind seeds
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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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27. Tamarind bark
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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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31. Tamarind flowers
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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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33. Recipes of tamarind
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34. Tamarind candy
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35. Tamarind rice
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36. Tamarind chutney
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37. Tamarind soup
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38. Tamarind juice
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39. Tamarind jam
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40. Thank you!!