Tamarind Tree/ Tamarindusindica [The Medical Plant]

Tamarind Tree/ Tamarindusindica [The Medical Plant]. Jelly of treacle tamarind is being prepared from the sour fruit pulp; also jam. The heavy heartwood is used for fine wood work and wood carving. The seeds, roasted or fritted, are edible. The fruits of tamarind are medically utillized and included in almost all present pharmacopoeias. It is a medicinal plant, used in at least 23 countries. The fruit tamarind pulp is cooling and a gentle laxative. The old fruits tamarind are of medical importance by its content of fixed oil [madu asem]. You can also treat fevers with tamarindusIndica, please read here but you must using English translate.

The old fruits tamarind [asem kawak] mixed with water , is used as an abortive. Other parts of the plant are also medically applied. The fruits pulp contains a high percentage of tartaric acid, the main constituent of fruit Salts. The young leaves are used externally for the treatment of ulcers, rheumatiism, carbuncles,eczema. The seeds, as a powder, are also aplplied against ulcers.

The property of forming acid-sugar jellies is derived from a carbohydrate composed of xylose, glucose and galactose. The bark poultices as well the leaves; the seeds.as is the casewith the old fruits, contain a fixed oil ; the fresh shoots and tender leaves vitamin B. In general the Tamarind yields a gum containing galactan.

Description
Height up to 25 m, with even pinnately compound leaves and yellowis flower. Pod with stem, oblong, thick,3.5-20 to 2.5 cm; outerwall frail ; fruit pulp sour.

Locality 
A well-known tree, probably native in tropical Africa, at present pantropic. In Indonesia it is found in the lowlands as shade and avenue tree.

Latin :Tamarindusindica
Indonesian : AsemJawa/Tangkalasam/ Acem/ Celagi
English : Tamarind tree

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