Ethnobotanical and nutritional value of pulps, leaves, seeds and kernels of Tamarindus indica L.: A review

Abstract

Tamarindus indica L., a widely distributed tropical plant, is highly valued as a cash crop in Asia but remains underutilized in Africa. This  review aims to present the current scientific knowledge on the nutritional value of Tamarindus indica L., specifically focusing on its pulp,  leaves, seeds, and almonds. The data was collected by introducing the groups of keywords related to the species in the engines of  research. The results collected vary according to the authors and show that several studies were interested in the pulp and the seeds of  the species unlike the leaves. 100 grams of Tamarindus indica L. pulp contains on average 60.99 g of sugars; 4.05g of raw ash; 18.40g of  tartaric acid and 6.12g of total fiber. Tamarindus indica L. seeds are a good source of protein (20.21g), potassium (217.04mg), calcium  (45.33mg), magnesium (31.32mg) and iron (14.28mg). These organs have a balanced profile of -amino acids and secondary metabolites.  The average alkaloid, trypsin inhibitor, tannin and phytate contents of treated seeds were significantly reduced compared to whole seeds.  This review offers five recommendations for future research efforts on the valorization of Tamarindus indica L. in Benin.