Pharmacognostical, Phytochemical and Cardioprotective Activity of Tamarinds Indica Linn. Bark

Many herbal remedies have been employed in various medicine systems for the treatment and management of the different diseases. The Tamarinds indica commonly known as ‘imali’ has been recognized in different system of traditional medicines for the treatment of different diseases and aliments of human being. This review supports of all updated information on its pharmacognostical, pharmacological activity and traditional uses. Preliminary phytochemical screening of this plant revealed the presences of, flavonoids, steroid, glycoside alkaloid and Triterpenoids. It has been reported as Antihelminthic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral, asthma, astringent, bacterial skin infections, constipation (chronic or acute), and diabetes. There is no report available on isolated constituents of bioactive compound from plant bark of Tamarinds indica which supports it’s further to isolating a useful pharmacologically active compound as a drug. INTRODUCTION: All over the world, plants were used as main source of medicines by ancestors. The rise of modern Western medicine was initially accompanied by a decline in the practice of herbalism in all cultures and it was believed that synthetic chemicals were best medicines to treat illness and cure disease. The quest for a healthier lifestyle has made people to once again recognize the healing power of herbs. Even in the west, natural products are now widely available and herbalism is again coming into lime light in a world which is becoming healthier and environmentally conscious. Herbal remedies can work without many of the unpleasant side effects of modern medicines . The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 80% of the population living in the developing countries relies almost exclusively on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs. Antioxidant: A free radical is any chemical species (capable of independent existence) possessing one or more unpaired electrons, an unpaired electron being one that is alone in an atomic or molecular orbital. Free radicals are formed from molecules via the breakage of a chemical bond such that each fragment keeps one electron (free radicals may also be formed by collision of the non radical species by a reaction between a radical and a molecule which must then result in a radical since the total number of electrons is odd), by cleavage of a radical to give another radical and, finally via redox reactions. Three partially reduced species of oxygen are generated depending upon the number of electrons transferred. These are: Super oxide oxygen (O2): one electron Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2): two electrons Hydroxyl radical (OH): three electrons