Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name

Market nameAsam Jawa
Other namesJava: wit asem (Javanese), tangkal asem (Sundanese), acem (Madurese), Celebes: Asang Jawa (north Celebes), camba (Makasar); Sumatra: asam jawa, cumalagi (Minangkabau); Mollucas : asang (South Seram), asan jawaka (Buru) [201].
English nameTamarind
Original plant nameTamarindus indica Linn., Tamarind
Family nameCaesalpiniaceae (Former Leguminosae)
Used partClassificationPlant origin
Sub classification fruit peal, pericarp
Collection informationRepublic of Indonesia, Lugu Morni
Collection date1994/02/24
CollectorKatsuko Komatsu, et al.
IdentifierMangestuti Agil
TMPW No.14092

Scientific information data base

Crude drug nameIndonesian name,
English name		Asam jawa, Tamarind
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Original plant nameTamarindus indica Linn.
Family nameCaesalpiniaceae (Former Leguminosae)
Used partFruit, pulps.
Distribution areaIt is cultivated in lowland along roadsides as shade trees in Indonesia [201].
DescriptionFruits brown, podded with brittle flaky skin and a deep brown-red, sticky pulp that surrounds several hard seeds. The pulp has a very unique sweet-sour-spicy flavor that is extensively used for flavoring.
It is a large, slow growing tree to 80ft, with a canopy of up to 30ft. Water frequently when young, but less when mature. Trees like dry conditions during fruit development.
Leaves compound, pinnate, 1-2.5 cm long and 0.5-1 cm wide, margin entire, apex round, base round, green, stalk 0.2 cm long.
Drug effectCooling, sour, specific aroma, improving blood circulation [231].
Specific actionsLaxative [231].
Frequency in useAbundant.
Common usesIt is commonly used as food ingredient. The pulp has a unique sweet-sour-spicy flavor that is extensively used for flavoring, especially in Javanese food.
The fruits may be eaten fresh, but are usually prepared as a flavour for beverages. Tamarinds are also commonly used to make candies, preserves, jam, syrup and for flavour purposes in many desserts and dishes.The syrup is good for regulating bowel movement.
Fruit pulp is frequently used to wash head and body, also to clean silver and copper wares [201].
Seeds are called locally as ''klungsu'', and are edible. Roasted seeds are pounded to separate the outer skin and then are soaked on salt water for 24 hours. They are mixed with grated coconut and eaten as snack. Probably seeds also have medicinal effects [201].
Pharmacological effectThe antioxidant capacities of major polyphenolic compounds of Tamarindus indica were examined using some extracts which are extracted using organic solvents. The metabolites were isolated by semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. Result indicates that tamarind may be an important source of cancer chemopreventive natural products [PMID: 16000233].

Treatment of hypercholesterolemic hamsters with the Tamarindus indica pulp fruit extract (5%) led to a decrease in the levels of serum total cholesterol (50%), non-HDL cholesterol (73%) and triglyceride (60%), and to an increase of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (61%) [PMID: 16330140].

Aqueous extract of seed of Tamarindus indica Linn. was found to have potent antidiabetogenic activity that reduces blood sugar level in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male rat [PMID: 15099853].
Medical systemIndonesian medicine (Jamu)
Traditional usageIt is used to treat skin problems (boil, ulcers), abscesses, cough, aphthae, acne vulgaris, and as an abortivum [201, 207].
''Asem kawak'', is made from pulp of ripe fruits. Seeds are removed, and the pulps are put together and divided into some sticky round dough, then steamed for 10 minutes. The cooked pulp is kept in a dried container and can be used in preparing food and traditional medicines. Within one year, an oily liquid is obtained from the pulp which is used to treat thrush and itchy wounds. ''Asem kawak'' diluted with water is used as an abortivum.
Young leaves, locally called sinom, are mixed with primary rhizome of turmeric and boiled to make a decoction; the decoction is used as a wash to treat skin diseases and boils [201].
Formulation1) Allergy:
 Fresh leaves and turmeric rhizome are pounded to make a fine mushy mixture. Apply the mixture in the affected areas.

2) Menstrual pain:
 Tamarind pulp mixed with fresh turmeric rhizome, pour boiled water. Drink the mixture twice a day, each 100 ml.

3) Cough:
 10 grams of fruit pulp is steeped in 1 glass of boiled water, add some coconut sugar, drink at a time [207].
ReferencesReference book　

Tips！

[201] K. Heyne, Tumbuhan Berguna Indonesia, Vols. 1-4, 1987. Diedarkan Oleh Koperasi Karyawan Departemen Kehutanan, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Vol. 2, pp 903-906.

[207] Badan Penelitian Dan Pengembangan Kesehatan and Departemen Kesehatan, Kesejahteraan Sosial Ri. Vols. 1-5, Inventaris Tanaman Obat Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Vol. 3, pp 287-288.

[231] Soedibyo, Mooryati: Alam Sumber Kesehatan: Manfaat dan Kegunaan (Natural resources for health. Benefits and uses). Balai Pustaka. 1998.
pp 60-62.

Research paper1. Martinello F, Soares SM, Franco JJ, Santos AC, Sugohara A, Garcia SB, Curti C, Uyemura SA. Hypolipemic and antioxidant activities from Tamarindus indica L. pulp fruit extract in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. Food Chem Toxicol. 44(6):810-8, 2006. (PMID: 16330140)

2. Sudjaroen Y, Haubner R, Wurtele G, Hull WE, Erben G, Spiegelhalder B, Changbumrung S, Bartsch H, Owen RW. Isolation and structure elucidation of phenolic antioxidants from Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) seeds and pericarp. Food Chem Toxicol. 43(11):1673-82, 2005. (PMID: 16000233)

3. Maiti R, Jana D, Das UK, Ghosh D. Antidiabetic effect of aqueous extract of seed of Tamarindus indicaa in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 92(1):85-91, 2004. (PMID: 15099853)
Remarks[DNA sequences] AB378725, AB378726, AB378727, AB378728, AB378729, AB378730, AB378731, AB378732, AB378733, AB378734, AB378735
Last renewal date2024/02/29
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