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Review
. 2019 Sep;8(3):181-186.
doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2019.07.002. Epub 2019 Jul 23.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of Tamarindus indica Linn. (Fabaceae): a narrative review

Richard Komakech  1   2   3 , Yong-Goo Kim  2 , Gilbert Motlalepula Matsabisa  4 , Youngmin Kang  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of Tamarindus indica Linn. (Fabaceae): a narrative review

Richard Komakech et al. Integr Med Res. 2019 Sep.

Abstract

Chronic inflammation is one of the causes of a number of non-infectious diseases in the world. Over the years, Tamarindus indica has played fundamental roles in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug. It is a commercialized biocompatible medicinal plant species with a wide range of therapeutic window and with suggested LD50 greater than 5000 mg kg-1 body weight when administered to the Wistar rats. This review examined the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential and mechanism of various extracts from T. indica pulp, leaves, seeds, stem bark, and roots. The preclinical studies provided strong pharmacological evidence for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the different parts of T. indica and this may be attributed to the various bioactive compounds in it including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, saponins, and steroids. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the extracts from the different parts of T. indica may be due to its ability to inhibit a number of biological processes including cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), 5-lipoxygenase biosynthesis, and tumor necrosis factor-α. The analgesic activity of T. indica may also be through the activation of the opioidergic mechanism at both the peripheral and central levels. Although further pre-clinical studies still need to be conducted, these results demonstrated that T. indica has potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities and hence provides justification for its use in traditional medicine to treat body pain and other inflammatory related diseases including arthritis and offers a basis for future clinical studies and possible drug development.

Keywords: Analgesic; Anti-inflammatory; Phytochemical; Tamarindus indica; Traditional medicine.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The botanical morphology of the main features of Tamarindus indica. (a) Tamarindus indica tree growing in Eastern Uganda. (b) Greyish stem bark of T. indica. (c) Alternate, compound, opposite leaflets leaf of T. indica. (d) T. indica flowers. (e) T. indica fruits. (f) Rusty-brown pulp of T. indica. (g) Irregularly shaped, shiny, and smooth seeds of T. indica with very hard testa.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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