How many of you remember those lickable moments of eating tamarind and getting scolded for it. Tamarind chutney is inseparable from pakoras , samosas , dahi bhalle , tikkis , papri chats and many more.
Tamarind is really tasty and nutritious. It is the major ingredient of sambhar , rasam and south Indian dishes.
Tamarind connects North India to South India.
T.indica is a cheap and easily available plant. The whole plant has nutritional benefits. The root ,body , fruit , seeds are used as medicine and have industrial use as well. Tamarind fruit is a rich source of essential amino acids except tryptophan. It contains pectin, organic acids , minerals, polyphenols , flavonoids , phytochemicals and vitamins. It contains phenolic compounds like catenins, procyanidin, vitamin B2 , epicatechin, tartaric acid, mucilage, pectin, arabinose,xylose , galactose, glucose,uronic acid, triterpene. The seeds have a good amount of protein so it can be used in consumable form where protein malnutrition is common. It has many health benefits in traditional medicine. It can also be used for treatment of many ailments.
It may be used as a laxative because of its high malic acid , potassium and tartaric acid content.
The dried seeds have antioxidant properties.
For diarrhoea, the leaves are useful. For constipation, the fruit is useful. For abdominal pain , the soft bark is useful.
Tamarind fruit causes smooth muscle relaxation via calcium channel blockage. In this way it helps in diarrhoea.
The seeds extract may be effective against renal cell cancer and acute nephrotoxicity.
It may be able to protect from peptic ulcer.
It has been reported that tamarind is effective in allergic asthma and cough via antihistamine , adaptogenic and mast cell stabilizing effects.
The xyloglucan obtained from tamarind seeds may serve as suitable media for degenerated nerves and may aid nerve regeneration. Xyloglucan is suggested as a natural additive compound in sunscreen because it has immunoprotective and DNA protective effects from ultraviolet damage.
Mixtures obtained from bark and leaves help in wound healing.
The polysaccharide in T.indica seed may be used in eye drops to increase its effective time period because of its mucoadhesive properties. The mixture with hyaluronic acid in xerophthalmia and with timolol decreases intraocular pressure.
Tamarind fruit increases iron bioavailability.
Tamarind is hypolipidemic , anti atherosclerotic , antioxidant, immunomodulatory effect.
Tamarind fruit is antiparasitic , antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antinematodal. Antibacterial properties are due to its lupeol content. The bark extract has shown inhibitory effect on Salmonella typhi.
The leaves, seeds and other parts of the plant have mild anti-inflammatory effects. Polyphenol and flavonoid content of T.indica associated with anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects.
In acute alcohol induced liver toxicity, the leaves showed anti apoptotic and liver protecting effects. It causes membrane stabilisation and decreases glutathione consumption. Additionally, it prevents CASP -3 activation and DNA fragmentation and causes histopathologic amelioration.
Tamarind fruit has a weight control effect.
Tamarind has an anti diabetic effect.
The plant and the fruit are effective in fluoride toxicity.
Children are often scolded for eating too much tamarind. The raw fruit is not easily digested and causes stomach pain. Too much of it can cause dental erosion. It should be boiled in water and then used in the culinary preparation. So it is better to use in moderation like any other foodstuffs. Ibuprofen and acetyl salicylic acid when used with T.indica increase their bioavailability and increase the blood levels of them.
At this time when pollution level is too high and deforestation is a major problem, tamarind trees can be planted for the rescue. It is such a wonderful tree which gives all its part for health care. It's not just a spice, enjoy tamarind fruit , sow the seeds in the garden and enjoy the benefits but consult a health professional for the proper guidance.
No comments:
Post a Comment