Pharmacological justification for the ethnomedical use of roots, stem-bark and leaves of Tamarindus Indica plant

The ethanol and water extracts of Tamarindus indica were screened for their phytochemical and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and proteus. The results indicated that saponnins, tannins, volatile oils, and phenols were present in the roots, stem-bark, and leaves ofethanol extracts. While alkaloids was present in only the stem-bark, and leaves of ethanol extract. Similarly, saponnins, volatile oils, and phenols were present in all the fractions of water extract. Tannins and alkaloids were present in the stem-bark and leaves fractions of the water extract. Flavoniods was completely absent in all the fractions of ethanol and water extracts. The roots, stem-bark, and leaves of ethanol extracts were active against almost all the pathogens, excluding Staphylococcus aureus that developed resistance against stem-bark of the ethanol extract. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and proteus developed resistance on the stem-bark and roots of the water extract. Only the leave of the water extract was active against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and proteus this attests to the fact that Tamarindus indica contains therapeutic and prophylactic significance and thus could be a promissory candidate for drug development.