Modulation of calcium-influx by carboxymethyl tamarind­gold nanoparticles promotes biomineralization for tissue regeneration.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been reported to modulate bone tissue regeneration and are being extensively utilized in biomedical implementations attributable to their low cytotoxicity, biocompatibility and simplicity of functionalization. Lately, biologically synthesized nanoparticles have acquired popularity because of their environmentally acceptable alternatives for diverse applications. Here we report the green synthesis of AuNPs by taking the biopolymer Carboxymethyl Tamarind (CMT) as a unique reducing as well as a stabilizing agent. The synthesized CMT-AuNPs were analyzed by UV-vis spectrophotometer, DLS, FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM and TEM. These results suggest that CMT-AuNPs possess an average size of 19.93 ± 8.52 nm and have long-term stability. Further, these CMT-AuNPs promote the proliferation together with the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast cells in a "dose-dependent" manner. Additionally, CMT-AuNPs are non-toxic to SD rats when applied externally. We suggest that the CMT-AuNPs have the potential to be a suitable and non-toxic agent for differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast cells in vitro and this can be tested in vivo as well.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from discarded shells of velvet tamarind (Dialium cochinchinense) and their antimicrobial synergistic potentials and biofilm inhibition properties.

In the field of nanomedicine, biogenic metal nanoparticles are commonly synthesized using edible plant products as bio-reducing or stabilizing agents. In this study, discarded shell of velvet tamarind fruit is explored as a potent reducing agent for biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (VeV-AgNPs). Silver nanoparticles were formed in minutes under sunlight exposure, which was considerably fast compared to under ambient conditions. The optical, structural and morphological studies revealed that the nanoparticle colloidal solution consisted of particles with quasi-spherical and rodlike morphologies. To investigate antimicrobial properties, eight microorganisms were exposed to the VeV-AgNPs. The results indicated that VeV-AgNPs had enhanced antimicrobial activity, with a recorded minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.9 µg/mL against E. coli. Further studies were conducted to examine the biofilm inhibition properties and synergistic effect of the VeV-AgNPs. The findings showed a biofilm inhibition potential of around 98% against E. coli, and the particles were also found to increase the efficacy of standard antimicrobial agents. The combinatory effect with standard antifungal and antibacterial agents ranged from synergistic to antagonistic effects against the tested microorganisms. These results suggest that silver nanoparticles produced from discarded shells of velvet tamarind are potent and could be used as a potential drug candidate to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Carboxymethyl cellulose/poly (vinyl alcohol) based active film incorporated with tamarind seed coat waste extract for food packaging application.

Incorporating a bioactive food waste extract into biodegradable polymers is a promising green approach to producing active films with antioxidant and antibacterial activity for food packaging. Active packaging films from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) incorporated with tamarind seed coat waste extract (TS) were prepared by solvent casting method using citric acid as a crosslinking agent. The effect of TS content on the film properties was determined by measuring the optical, morphology, mechanical, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), antioxidant, and antimicrobial attributes. The CMC/PVA-TS films were also tested on fresh pork. The addition of TS did not significantly affect the film structure and WVTR but it improved the mechanical and UV barrier properties. The films possessed antioxidant and antimicrobial ability against bacteria (S. aureus and E. coli). Thus, CMC/PVA packaging was successfully prepared, and the incorporation of TS enhanced the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the film, which extended the shelf-life of fresh pork.

Electrospun Tamarindus indica-loaded antimicrobial PMMA/cellulose acetate/PEO nanofibrous scaffolds for accelerated wound healing: In-vitro and in-vivo assessments.

In this work, Tamarindus indica (T. indica)-loaded crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/cellulose acetate (CA)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) electrospun nanofibers were designed and fabricated for wound healing applications. T. indica is a plant extract that possesses antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimalarial and wound healing properties. T. indica leaves extract of different concentrations were blended with a tuned composition of a matrix comprised of PMMA (10 %), CA (2 %) and PEO (1.5 %), and were electrospun to form smooth, dense and continuous nanofibers as illustrated by SEM investigation. In vitro evaluation of T. indica-loaded nanofibers on normal human skin fibroblasts (HBF4) revealed a high compatibility and low cytotoxicity. T. indica-loaded nanofibers significantly increased the healing activity of scratched HBF4 cells, as compared to the free plant extract, and the healing activity was significantly enhanced upon increasing the plant extract concentration. Moreover, T. indica-loaded nanofibers demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity in vitro against the tested microbes. In vivo, nanofibers resulted in a superior wound healing efficiency compared to the control untreated animals. Hence, engineered nanofibers loaded with potent phytochemicals could be exploited as an effective biocompatible and eco-friendly antimicrobial biomaterials and wound healing composites.

Study of chemical constituents, antioxidants and antimicrobial activities of Tamarindus indica L. seed.

The fruits of Tamarindus indica L. are consumed worldwide, with various parts of the plant being used for medicinal purposes. The residues (pericarp and seeds) generated during cellulose processing are of significant value as they contain bioactive compounds with diverse biological activities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical constituents of the ethyl acetate fraction as possible substitutes for synthetic compounds with biological properties using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) analysis and the evaluation of the antioxidant activity (ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP], 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid [ABTS], and 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH]), total phenolic compounds (TPC), and antimicrobial activity of the hydroalcoholic extract and tamarind seed fractions were also performed. The chemical investigation of the acetate fraction using UHPLC-HRMS/MS resulted in the putative identification of 14 compounds, including flavonoids, (+)-catechin/(-)-epicatechin, procyanidin B2, procyanidin C2, isoquercetin, quercetin, luteolin, rutin, taxifolin, eriodictyol, kaempferide, hydroxybenzoic acid, protocathecuic acid, and protocathecuic acid methyl and ethyl esters derivatives. The crude hydroalcoholic extract exhibited the best results in terms of TPC: 883.87 gallic acid equivalent (GAE; mg/g) and antioxidant activity: FRAP: 183.29 GAE (mg/g), ABTS: 39.67%, and DPPH: 91.08%. The extract exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria, specifically Staphylococcus aureus minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)/minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC; 62.5/125 g/mL) and Bacillus cereus MIC/MBC (125/250 g/mL), and gram-negative bacteria, specifically Aeromonas hydrophila MIC/MBC (125/250 µg/mL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa MIC/MBC (250/500 g/mL). Morphological damage to cells was observed using flow cytometry and scanning electron microscopy. Tamarind seeds contain unique bioactive compounds that should be explored for their use as novel food preservatives. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Original data were obtained regarding the Tamarindus indica L. seed extract and the ethyl acetate and hexane fractions. This research aimed to investigate the potential of these for food preservation and as alternatives to additives and synthetic compounds added to cattle feed. This paper reports novel findings regarding the chemical composition of the extract and its antioxidant activity, along with its antimicrobial activity against bacteria (gram-positive: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and gram-negative: Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Aeromonas hydrophila) and yeasts (Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

Sour Tamarind Is More Antihypertensive than the Sweeter One, as Evidenced by In Vivo Biochemical Indexes, Ligand-Protein Interactions, Multitarget Interactions, and Molecular Dynamic Simulation.

This research investigated the antihypertensive effects of tamarind products and compared their potentials based on an animal model's data verified by molecular docking, multitarget interactions, and dynamic simulation assays. GC-MS-characterized tamarind products were administered to cholesterol-induced hypertensive albino rat models. The two-week-intervened animals were dissected to collect their serum and organs and respectively subjected to analyses of their hypertension-linked markers and tissue architectures. The lead biometabolites of tamarinds interacted with eight target receptors in the molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies and with multitarget in the network pharmacological analyses. The results show that the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), C-reactive protein (CRP), troponin I, and lipid profiles were maximally reinstated by the phenolic-enriched ripened sour tamarind extract compared to the sweet one, but the seed extracts had a smaller influence. Among the tamarind's biometabolites, ϒ-sitosterol was found to be the best ligand to interact with the guanylate cyclase receptor, displaying the best drug-likeliness with the highest binding energy, -9.3 Kcal. A multitargeted interaction-based degree algorithm and a phylogenetic tree of pathways showed that the NR3C1, REN, PPARG, and CYP11B1 hub genes were consistently modulated by ϒ-sitosterol to reduce hypertension and related risk factors. The dynamic simulation study showed that the P-RMSD values of ϒ-sitosterol-guanylate cyclase were stable between 75.00 and 100.00 ns at the binding pocket. The findings demonstrate that ripened sour tamarind extract may be a prospective antihypertensive nutraceutical or supplement target affirmed through advanced preclinical and clinical studies.

Potential of Tamarind Shell Extract against Oxidative Stress In Vivo and In Vitro.

Tamarind shell is rich in flavonoids and exhibits good biological activities. In this study, we aimed to analyze the chemical composition of tamarind shell extract (TSE), and to investigate antioxidant capacity of TSE in vitro and in vivo. The tamarind shells were extracted with 95% ethanol refluxing extraction, and chemical constituents were determined by ultra-performance chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The free radical scavenging activity of TSE in vitro was evaluated using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method. The antioxidative effects of TSE were further assessed in 2,2-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-stimulated ADTC5 cells and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-exposed zebrafish. A total of eight flavonoids were detected in TSE, including (+)-catechin, taxifolin, myricetin, eriodictyol, luteolin, morin, apigenin, and naringenin, with the contents of 5.287, 8.419, 4.042, 6.583, 3.421, 4.651, 0.2027, and 0.6234 mg/g, respectively. The ORAC assay revealed TSE and these flavonoids had strong free radical scavenging activity in vitro. In addition, TSE significantly decreased the ROS and MDA levels but restored the SOD activity in AAPH-treated ATDC5 cells and t-BHP-exposed zebrafish. The flavonoids also showed excellent antioxidative activities against oxidative damage in ATDC5 cells and zebrafish. Overall, the study suggests the free radical scavenging capacity and antioxidant potential of TSE and its primary flavonoids in vitro and in vivo and will provide a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of tamarind shell.

Inhibition of Advanced Glycation End-Products by Tamarindus indica and Mitragyna inermis Extracts and Effects on Human Hepatocyte and Fibroblast Viability.

Tamarindus indica and Mitragyna inermis are widely used by herbalists to cure diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory potential of aqueous and various organic solvent fractions from both plants and some isolated compounds against advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). For this purpose, an in vitro BSA-fructose glycation model was used to evaluate the inhibition of AGE formation. Furthermore, the effects of the fractions on mouse fibroblast (NIH-3T3) and human hepatocyte (HepG2) survival were evaluated. The leaf, stem, and root fractions of both plants exhibited significant inhibition of AGEs formation. The IC50 values appeared to be less than 250 µg/mL; however, all fractions presented no adverse effects on NIH-3T3 up to 500 µg/mL. Otherwise, our phytochemical investigation afforded the isolation of a secoiridoid from the Mitragyna genus named secoiridoid glucoside sweroside (1), along with three known quinovic acid glycosides: quinovic acid-3ß-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (2), quinovic acid-3-O-ß-d-6-deoxy-glucopyranoside, 28-O-ß-d-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and quinovic acid 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(4→1)-ß-d-glucopyranoside (4). In particular, 1-3 are compounds which have not previously been described in Mitragyna inermis roots. However, the isolated compounds did not exhibit AGE inhibitory activity. Further investigation on these potent antiglycation fractions may allow for the isolation of new antidiabetic drug candidates.

Tamarind Seed Coat: A Catechin-Rich Source with Anti-Oxidation, Anti-Melanogenesis, Anti-Adipogenesis and Anti-Microbial Activities.

Tamarindus indica L. or tamarind seed is an industrial by-product of interest to be investigated for its potential and value-added application. An ethanolic tamarind seed coat (TS) extract was prepared using the maceration technique and used to determine the phytochemical composition and bioactivities. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using colorimetric methods; moreover, chemical constituents were identified and quantified compared to the standard compounds using the HPLC-UV DAD technique. Bioactivities were investigated using various models: antioxidative activity in a DPPH assay model, anti-melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells, anti-adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and anti-microbial activity against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and C. albican using agar disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The results manifested a high content of catechin as a chemical constituent and multiple beneficiary bioactivities of TS extract, including superior antioxidation to ascorbic acid and catechin, comparable anti-melanogenesis to deoxyarbutin, and significant anti-adipogenesis through inhibition of pre-adipocyte differentiation and reduction of lipid and triglyceride accumulation, and a broad spectral anti-microbial activity with a selectively high susceptibility to S. aureus when compared to 1% Parabens. Conclusively, TS extract has been revealed as a potential bioactive agent as well as an alternative preservative for application in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical product development.

Antidiabetic Effect of Tamarindus indica and Momordica charantia and Downregulation of TET-1 Gene Expression by Saroglitazar in Glucose Feed Adipocytes and Their Involvement in the Type 2 Diabetes-Associated Inflammation In Vitro.

To date, there is no satisfactory and effective therapy available to cure type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This present work is focused on plant extracts and the effect of saroglitazar and TET genes on oxidative stress and inflammation in vitro adipocytes. Aqueous extracts of Tamarindus indica and Momordica charantia seed have shown potent antidiabetic activity that decreases glucose levels in diabetic adipocytes. After seven and fourteen days, the sugar level in the blood was significantly reduced when plant extracts were supplemented. Lipid profiles including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TGL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) showed a highly significant change as expected in adipocytes treated with glucose compared with controlled adipocytes (P < 0.001). Gene expression of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD1, SOD2), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) are changed twice, thrice, and quadruplet, respectively. The level of interleukin-1 (IL1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was restored but the interleukin-6 (IL6) and ten-eleven-translocation-1 (TET1) were completely knocked down by the use of saroglitazar. In comparison with the diabetic group, this supplementation significantly increased glycogen content and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity. In the extract supplemented group, glucose-6-phosphatase, glucose-oxidizing enzyme, and glucose-phosphorylating enzyme activities were significantly reduced. After seven days of extract supplementation, these parameters were not resettled to a controlled level; however, after 14 days of supplementation, all parameters were restored to the control level. In addition to altering gene expression, TET enzymes may contribute to altered adiposity and its metabolic consequences. The purpose of this study is to examine new ideas and approaches for treating obesity, T2DM, and other associated metabolic disorders.

Bioactive compounds, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of methanol extract of Tamarindus indica Linn.

Tamarindus indica is one of the tropical medicinal plants that has been attributed curative potential of numerous diseases by many rural dwellers. This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial activities and also to determine the various chemical constituents responsible for its pharmacological activities. The methanol extract of Tamarindus indica fruit pulp was analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer to determine the volatile compounds present. The antioxidant activities were performed using DPPH and FRAP method and the antibacterial activity was tested against some common pathogens by macro broth dilution method. The GCMS analysis shows the presence of 37 compounds, out of which 14 had their peak area percentages ≥ 1% and only two compounds had no reported pharmacological activities. Most of the bioactive compounds including 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (31.06%)-3-O-Methyl-d-glucose (16.31%), 1,6-anhydro-ß-D-Glucopyranose (9.95%), 5-methyl-Furancarboxaldehyde (3.2%), Triethylenediamine (1.17%), 1-(2-furanyl)-1-Propcanone (2.18%), Methyl 2-furoate (3.14%), Levoglucosenone (3.21%), methyl ester-Hepta-2,4-dienoic acid, (8.85%), 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydrox-4H-Pyran-4-one (3.4%), O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1.fwdarw.3)-ß-D-fructofuranosyl-α-D-Glucopyranoside (2.18%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (1.38%), 2-Heptanol, acetate (1.29%), 5-[(5-methyl-2-fur-2-Furancarboxaldehyde (1.08%), 3-Methyl-2-furoic acid (1.05%) and cis-Vaccenic acid (2.85%)have been reported with different activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antitubercular, anticancer, antioxidant and other prophylactic activities. The extract demonstrated inhibitory potential against all tested pathogen. However, Plesiomonas shigellosis ATCC 15903 and Bacillus pumillus ATCC 14884 are more sensitive with the MIC of 0.22 and 0.44 mg/ml respectively. The antioxidant activity was relatively low due to the low phenolic content of the extract. This shows that there is a strong correlation between antioxidant activities and phenolic content. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of bioactive phytoconstituents with various biological activities and this justifies the rationale behind its usage as a curative therapy by many local dwellers.

Biodiesel Production from Alkali-Catalyzed Transesterification of Tamarindus indica Seed Oil and Optimization of Process Conditions.

Biodiesel is considered a sustainable alternative to petro-diesel owing to several favorable characteristics. However, higher production costs, primarily due to the use of costly edible oils as raw materials, are a chief impediment to its pecuniary feasibility. Exploring non-edible oils as raw material for biodiesel is an attractive strategy that would address the economic constraints associated with biodiesel production. This research aims to optimize the reaction conditions for the production of biodiesel through an alkali-catalyzed transesterification of Tamarindus indica seed oil. The Taguchi method was applied to optimize performance parameters such as alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, catalyst amount, and reaction time. The fatty acid content of both oil and biodiesel was determined using gas chromatography. The optimized conditions of alcohol-to-oil molar ratio (6:1), catalyst (1.5% w/w), and reaction time 1 h afforded biodiesel with 93.5% yield. The most considerable contribution came from the molar ratio of alcohol to oil (75.9%) followed by the amount of catalyst (20.7%). In another case, alcohol to oil molar ratio (9:1), catalyst (1.5% w/w) and reaction time 1.5 h afforded biodiesel 82.5% yield. The fuel properties of Tamarindus indica methyl esters produced under ideal conditions were within ASTM D6751 biodiesel specified limits. Findings of the study indicate that Tamarindus indica may be chosen as a prospective and viable option for large-scale production of biodiesel, making it a substitute for petro-diesel.

Indigenous knowledge and quantitative ethnobotany of the Tanawal area, Lesser Western Himalayas, Pakistan.

Ethnobotanical field surveys were carried out in the Tanawal area of the Lesser Himalayan Region, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Province from April 2016 to October 2017. The area is located between 34.36 (34° 21' 30 N) latitude and 73.07 (73° 4' 0 E) longitude with an average elevation of 1374 meters above sea level. Ethnomedicinal data were collected through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), and participants were selected through the snow-boll technique. Semi-structured, in-depth and open-ended interviews were conducted. The data were quantitatively evaluated using ethnomedicinal indices i.e. Relative frequency of citation (RFCs), Fidelity level (FL), and Use Value (UV). The ethnobotanical data were also comparatively analyzed through the Jaccard Index (JI). The study yielded 66 medicinal plants in 62 genera and 43 families. Asteraceae and Solanaceae were the most important families with five medicinal taxa each. Regarding medicinal plant part utilization, leaves (43.28%) were used predominantly, followed by whole plant (14.92%) and fruits (14.92%). Decoction was the main drug formulation applied to 21 species (31.15%) and the oral route was most common (56.1%) while 31.2% of medicinal plants were used for both oral and topical applications. Fifty health disorders were recorded and grouped in 15 categories. Maximum species were used to treat gastrointestinal disorders i.e. 13 species, dermal problems (12 species), and respiratory tract ailments (9). The calculated RFCs ranged between 81 to 31. The most important medicinal plants were Acacia modesta, Citrullus vulgaris, Tamarindus indica, and Momordica charantia with an RGFC of 81 each. The UV ranged between 0.58 and 3.6. Medicinal taxa with the highest UV were Dioscorea deltoidea (3.6), Withania coagulans (3.3), Momordica charantia (3.5), Silybum marianum and Pyrus pashia (3.2). FL values showed that 28 (41.79%) species had a FL value below 50 (74.62%) while 39 (58.20%) had higher FL values. Momordica charantia, Tamarindus indica, Acacia modesta and Citrullus vulgaris were 95.2 each. The Jaccard Index (JI) values ranged from16.77 to 0.98. The current study also reported 16 medicinal plants, commonly used around the globe, have been rarely documented for their medicinal values in the local ethnomedicinal literature i.e. Althaea officinalis, Plantanus orientalis, Jasminum sombac, Maytenus royleana, Cucurbita maxima, Phyllanthus emblica, Citrullus vulgaris. Polygonatum verticilliatum, Caseria tomentosa, Cistanche tubulosa, Bambusa arundinacea, Schinus molle, Tamarindus indica, Pongamia pinnata, Citrus limon and Catharanthus roseus. However, 48 medicinal plants had been reported in the literature but the current study reported their novel medicinal uses. Important taxa should be established in botanical gardens for in-situ conservation, chemical investigation and sustainable utilization. It would also be effective to improve the livelihoods of the local population.

Combustion characteristics of biomass fuel briquettes from onion peels and tamarind shells.

Rising worldwide demand and consumption of fossil fuels have elevated wealth creation, improved undesirable impacts on climatic change from emission of greenhouse gases, and endangered communal health. In developing nations, biomass wastes, which include but are not limited to agricultural residues, are generated in huge quantities yearly. During the disposal of biomass, incomplete combustion causes people to get exposed to elevated indoor concentrations on health-damaging pollutants including particulate matter and carbon monoxide. Inefficient usage or disposed biomass wastes may cause toxic impacts on higher levels of pollution, the consequent degeneration of public health and ecological contamination. It is possible to convert these wastes into energy-efficient briquettes through densification. In this research work, the combustion characteristics were identified from biomass briquettes which were produced from Onion Peels (OP), Tamarind Shells (TS) and Cassava Starch. OP-TS were mixed sequentially and conversely with different proportions. From the total weight of biomass, 10% of cassava starch was added and briquettes were produced under 200 kN pressure from the compressed hydraulic system within the dwell time of 60 seconds. The proximate characteristics such as the presence of water content, amount of fixed carbon, ash and volatile matter were determined by using the standard procedures of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The ultimate parameter, which is inclusive of Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O) were diagnosed in all produced biomass briquettes and calorific values were identified for all the produced biomass briquettes as well. OP-TS have better fuel properties in comparison with pine, cotton stalk (CS), wood sawdust (WS), municipal solid waste (MSW) and cotton straw biomass briquettes (CSB). Therefore, the produced biomass briquettes could bring substantial environmental and socio-economic benefits to rural communities and are potentially worthy fuels derived from agricultural wastes.

Tamarindus indica. Linn leaves ameliorates experimental induced heart failure in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are highly prevalent in various countries, and heart failure accounts for the majority of deaths. The present study focuses on determining the protective effect of ethanol extract of leaves of Tamarindus indica (TIEE) by in vitro and in vivo methods. METHODS: In vitro cardiotonic activity was determined using Langendorff's heart perfusion assembly. In vivo studies were performed using Doxorubicin (1.5 mg/kg, i.p for seven days) induced cardiotoxicity in rats. These animals were simultaneously treated with the TIEE at a low dose (200 mg/kg, p.o), high dose (400 mg/kg, p.o) and standard drug Digoxin (100 µg/kg, p.o) for seven days. At the end of the study, various parameters like electrocardiogram (ECG) recording, serum levels of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), and presence of cardiac troponin (cTnI) were determined. Isolated hearts were subjected to histopathological studies. RESULTS: The TIEE at a concentration of 60 µg/mL showed a significant cardiotonic effect in vitro that was evident by increased force of contraction, heart rate, and cardiac output. In vivo studies revealed that the TIEE decreased the prolongation of QT and RR interval of ECG, lowered the serum enzyme levels like LDH, CPK indicating cardiac protection, and the same was established by the absence of cTnI in blood. Histopathological examinations of heart tissue sections showed improved architecture in the treatment groups when compared with diseased groups. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed the cardioprotective activity of T. indica leaf extract by both in vitro and in vivo methods.

Green synthesis, in vivo and in vitro pharmacological studies of Tamarindus indica based gold nanoparticles.

The current investigation aims to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica and to evaluate the in vitro anti-bacterial and in vivo sedative and anelgescic activities of crude extract as well as synthesized AuNPs. Several methods have been reported to synthesize AuNPs; however, most of them were not ecofriendly. In the present study, the green synthesis of AuNPs has been carried out. Using the green synthesis method, AuNPs of T. indica were synthesized at room temperature (25 °C) by mixing 5 mL of HAuCl4 (1 mM) with 1 mL of T. indica seed extract solution. This extract solution was prepared by taking 5 gm dry seeds in 100 mL of double deionized water with continuous stirring for up to 24 h at 80 °C. The stability of AuNPs was confirmed with the help of relevant experimental techniques including ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) showing maximum absorbance at 535-540 nm, Fourier transform infrared showing a broad signal at 3464 cm-1 which can be attributed to either amide or hydroxyl functionalities and atomic force microscopy analysis showed that the biomaterial surrounding AuNPs was agglomerated which proves the formation of discrete nanostructutres. These AuNPs have been evaluated for their antibacterial potential. The results revealed good antibacterial activity of the samples against. Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis with 10-12 mm zone of inhibition range. The AuNPs were also found stable at high temperature, over a range of pH and in 1 mM salt solution. Moreover, the crude extract and respective AuNPs also exhibited interesting sedative and analgesic activities. Hence, we focused on phytochemicals-mediated synthesis of AuNPs considered as greatest attention in the treatment of anti-bacterial, analgesic, and sedative.

In vitro therapeutic evaluation of nanoliposome loaded with Xyloglucans polysaccharides from Tamarindus flower extract.

Nanoparticles are interesting area of research developed for several diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Tamarind flower extract is rich in Xyloglucan, a starch like polysaccharide which promotes proliferation and various application areas like drug-delivery technology. In recent years researchers are evaluating nanoliposome using in vitro and in vivo studies to discover their biomedical applications. Considering the importance and feasibility of nanoliposome, the present study is focused on synthesis of liposomes via biological method. The biological molecules of Tamarindus indica flower were used for the synthesis of nanoliposome. The synthesized Tamarindus indica flower extract lipid nanoparticles (TifeLiNPs) loaded with xyloglucans were characterized and evaluated for therapeutic applications (antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities) under in vitro condition. UV-Vis spectral analysis revealed the emission of peak at 232 nm. Further, the chemical characterization using FTIR revealed the presence of components in the functional group. EDX analysis exhibited the presence of O, Na, P and Cl, while DLS confirmed bilayer formation of xyloglucan and liposomes with uniform size (70-80 nm) and spherical shape. The Physicochemical characterization of tamarind flower extract for its chemical composition revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins and flavonoids in confirmatory test. Presence of carbohydrate polymers such as rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose and xylose revealed using high performance anion exchange (HPAE) chromatography under basic conditions on an ion chromatographic system were measured using Pulsed Amperometric Detection (PAD). The synthesized nanoliposome evaluated against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria showed potential antibacterial activity. TifeLiNPs demonstrated significant in vitro antioxidant potential, antidiabetic, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activity. Overall, the present study exhibited the potential application of TifeLiNPs for biomedical purposes.

Structural insights and molecular dynamics into the inhibitory mechanism of a Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor from Tamarindus indica L.

Trypsin inhibitors from tamarind seed have been studied in vitro and in preclinical studies for the treatment of obesity, its complications and associated comorbidities. It is still necessary to fully understand the structure and behaviour of these molecules. We purifed this inhibitor, sequenced de novo by MALDI-TOF/TOF, performed its homology modelling, and assessed the interaction with the trypsin enzyme through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation under physiological conditions. We identified additional 75 amino acid residues, reaching approximately 72% of total coverage. The four best conformations of the best homology modelling were submitted to the MD. The conformation n°287 was selected considering the RMSD analysis and interaction energy (-301.0128 kcal.mol-1). Residues Ile (54), Pro (57), Arg (59), Arg (63), and Glu (78) of pTTI presented the highest interactions with trypsin, and arginine residues were mainly involved in its binding mechanism. The results favour bioprospecting of this protein for pharmaceutical health applications.

Sucrose replacement: a sensory profile and time-intensity analysis of a tamarind functional beverage with artificial and natural non-nutritive sweeteners.

BACKGROUND: Tamarind pulp contains polyphenolic compounds that exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects with a positive impact on human health. The elaboration of a tamarind-based functional beverage, without the addition of sucrose, can be an alternative to traditional caloric beverages. This study aimed to evaluate the sensory profile and time intensity of a functional tamarind beverage containing artificial and natural non-nutritive sweeteners. RESULTS: The results of the acceptance test, check-all-that-apply, and time-intensity tests showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the means of samples sweetened with sucralose and samples sweetened with sucrose for attributes relating to appearance, aroma, flavor, or texture, or for overall impression. Samples with natural sweeteners had lower means for overall product impression and a lower percentage of purchase intention. The perception of astringency, bitter taste, and bitter aftertaste may be linked to the lower global impression of the product. The descriptors 'tamarind flavor' and 'refreshment sensation' were higher in products that were more liked. The sample sweetened with stevia showed higher levels of sweetness, bitterness, and longer sweet stimulus duration in the time-intensity test. CONCLUSION: The sample sweetened with sucralose was the best alternative to sucrose in the functional tamarind beverage. The analyzed sweeteners did not show changes in the perception of the natural characteristics of the fruit used, such as tamarind flavor, refreshment sensation, and astringency. However, the attributes related to sweet and bitter aftertaste experienced in samples with natural sweeteners may have influenced the reduction in the intention to purchase the product. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of galactose side-chain on the self-assembly of xyloglucan macromolecule.

As a common side-chain residue of polysaccharide, galactose plays a significant role in multiple aspects of the macromolecules. This study showed how degalactosylation induced drastic self-assembly transition of xyloglucan from spherical aggregates toward ribbon-like aggregates, and how it led to largely decreased water solubility and apparent viscosity within a short range of galactose removal ratio. To better understand this phenomenon, the size of the ellipsoid-like aggregated nanoparticles were carefully measured and compared, and it was found out that those nanoparticles which lost more galactose residues turned out to be more slender and tend to bind and stack closely in parallel, thereby forming huge ribbon-like aggregates. The galactose residue is considered as the hydrophilic group, and the decreased number of which caused a more hydrophobic behavior.