Tamarindus indica

Tamarindus indica, or the Tamarind tree, known for its numerous health benefits, is a large evergreen tree native to tropical Africa and now found in Asia. Its alcoholic extract has been found to possess hypotensive effects, and this study seeks to evaluate the ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Tamarindus indica for vascular smooth muscle relaxation effects, as a possible mechanism of blood pressure reduction. Isolated rat thoracic aortic rings were suspended in an isolated organ bath with a pair of tungsten wires. A 50 mg/mL stock solution of the extract was prepared, from which serial dilutions were done to obtain the concentrations used (25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.56 and 0.78 mg/mL), and volumes of 25, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 uL were administered cumulatively. The experiment was done using rat thoracic aorta with intact and denuded endothelium, and rat thoracic aorta with intact endothelium, pre-contracted with 80 mM potassium chloride (KCl). The extract caused concentration-dependent relaxation of the rat thoracic aorta with intact and denuded endothelium, though this effect was slightly reduced with denuded endothelium. The extract also caused concentration-dependent relaxation of rat thoracic aorta pre-contracted with 80 mM KCl. From the results obtained from the study, it can be concluded that the extract possesses vascular smooth muscle relaxation effects, which might be both endothelium-dependent and independent, and is possibly mediated through blockade of the L-type Ca 2+ channels. This could be responsible for its blood pressure reduction effects.

Anxiety disorders are prevalent globally and the limitations in current treatments necessitate the exploration of ethnomedicinal plants. This study evaluated the putative anxiolytic-like potential of methanol leaf extracts of Ficus iteophylla (MEFI) and Tamarindus indica (METI) in mice, based on their traditional uses in Nigeria for neurobehavioural conditions. Qualitative phytochemical screening and oral acute toxicity in mice were conducted on the extract. For each extract, mice were randomly allotted to groups (n=4): group 1 (negative control, given oral 1% Tween 80), groups 2, 3, 4 (extract-treated with doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg p.o.), and group 5 (given 0.5 mg/kg of diazepam, i.p.). The animals were subjected to the hole- board test (HBT) and elevated plus maze (EPM). Groups of mice given 0.2 ml/day, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day of the extract for 14 consecutive days. After the last dose on the 14th day, their brains were for the assay of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (Gr), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.