Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) Seeds

This chapter provides an evaluation of the nutritional significance of tamarind seeds. Tamarind seed extract (TSE) is recommended for the treatment of snakebites, chronic diarrhea, diabetes, dysentery, jaundice, boils, eye diseases, and ulcers, and also as an antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antirheumatic agent. In addition, it is useful in the preparation of facial toners, moisturizers, serums, gels, masks, and anti-aging formulations. It contains therapeutic agents like antioxidants, triterpenes, polyphenolic bioactive compounds, procyanidines, polysaccharides, and other unknown factors, which have healing activities for various human pathophysiological disorders. Tamarind seed extract has been shown to exhibit strong antioxidant scavenging activity against hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions produced by the ABTS/H2O2/FeCl3 (Feton reaction) and hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (neotetrazolium) systems. It has also displayed scavenging activity against peroxyl radicals generated by ABTS/H2O2/peroxidase and ABTS/H2O2/myoglobin systems. Since these agents play a curative role in many pathophysiological disorders, TSE/isolated components may be recommended to treat oxidative stress, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, cancer, thrombolytic disorders, microbial infections, snakebite, arthritis, ocular lesions, chronic diarrhea, ulcers, serpinopathies, obesity, and dental and skeletal fluorosis. The isolated antioxidants from tamarind seeds have drawn the attention of pharmaceutical industries.