2018, Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part B

author(s)
Mahima Rana and Parul Sharma

abstract
Tamarind indica L. (Tamarind), an underutilized fruit tree which belongs to the leguminous family, grows wild in the savannah region of Nigeria This plant is known to have medicinal, cultural and ethno botanical uses and its often used as Therapeutic drink in febrile conditions, anti diabetic, antiulcer, inflammation, skin diseases, laxative, reduction of body temperature in fevers, hepatoprotective, anti-fertility, alleviate sunstroke. Thus knowing the importance of the plant as the therapeutic drug the present study had taken shape and have been validated to evaluate the phytoconstituents and proximate composition. All the nutrients (moisture, protein, crude fat, fibre) estimated during the study were analyzed by using standard AOAC methods. Carbohydrate was estimated by difference method. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were prepared from seed and pulp powders of Tamarind. Proximate nutrient analysis revealed that Tamarind reported higher amount of carbohydrate i.e. (49.5±0.1) in seed and (36.4±1.60) in pulp with observed significance difference (p≥0.05). Phytochemical screening of the samples revealed the presence of flavonoids and tannins in pulp and saponins in seed which might validate the traditional uses of the plant in the treatment of various diseases, whereas alkaloids and glycosides showed negative response. Considering that the plant is reasonably safe to use, this plant has not received sufficient promotion for use as herbal medicine. Its development will be important in the improved delivery of primary health in developing countries. The developmental cost of synthetic drugs is increasing tremendously; hence the drug recovery would take an economical path utilizing natural products.