PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS

Symphytum officinale

See Comfrey

Symplocarpus foetidus

See Skunk Cabbage

Syzygium aromaticum

See Clove

Syzygium cumini

See Jambolan

Tamarind

Tamarindus indica

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the fruit pulp and

the dried seeds.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers form a terminal raceme and

have three, 1 cm long petals which are initially whitish, then

yellowish with light-red stripes. They have a calyx with a

narrow, top-shaped base and 4 thickly covered segments.

The stamens are fused in a sheath, which is open at the top.

The fruit is a 20 cm long and 3 cm wide, matt-brown,

slightly compressed, indehiscent, bean-like pod. The fruit

has 3 to 12 seeds that are very hard and glossy brown. The

seeds are 14 mm long and have an irregular, roundish-

quadrangular shape. The mesocarp is odorless, mushy and

sweet-tasting.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to tropical Africa and is

naturalized in North and South America from Florida to

Brazil. It is cultivated in subtropical China, India, Pakistan,

Indochina, on the Phillippines and in Java and Spain.

Production: Tamarind paste is derived from the fruit of
Tamarindus indica. The fruit is fermented for a long time in
the sun. The initially red-brown fruit attains a black or black-
brown hue and becomes more aromatic and sour. The paste
is boiled to a glutinous mass, which is the finished product.

Other Names: Imlee

TAMARIND / 753

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Fruit acids: tartaric acid (3-10%); including among others,

malic acid, citric acid, lactic acid

Invert sugar (25-30%)

Pectin

Pyrazines and thiazols (aromatic substances)

EFFECTS

The drug, which contains organic acids and pectine, is said

to be laxative; however, the mode of action has not been

documented.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: The drug is used for chronic or acute

constipation and liver and gallbladder ailments.

Indian Medicine: The drug is used for bilious vomiting,

alcohol intoxication, fever, pharyngitis, stomatitis, constipa-

tion and hemorrhoids.

Homeopathic Uses: Tamarindus indica is used for

stomachaches.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction

with the proper administration of designated therapeutic

dosages.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Tamarind is taken orally and is

usually used in combination with other laxatives, such as

figs.

Preparation: To make a clean paste, soften the raw tamarind

paste in hot water, strain through a sieve, and steam to a soft

consistency in a water bath; mix the paste with sugar.

Daily Dosage: 10 to 50 gm of cleaned tamarind paste, pure

or with other purgatives, is taken in fruit cubes.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules, every

30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);

parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc, acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once

aday(HAB34).

Storage: Store in a tightly sealed container. '•

LITERATURE

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen): Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Ishola MM et al., J Sci Food Agric 51:141. 1990.

Khurana AL, Ho CT, J Liq Chromatogr 12:419-430. 1989.

Lee PL et al., (1975) J Agric Food Chem 23:1195.