Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) Seed Polysaccharide: A promising biopolymer for drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering and beyond

Abstract

Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide (TSP) is a versatile and sustainable biopolymer that has garnered considerable attention for its wide-ranging applications in diverse fields. Derived from the seeds of Tamarindus indica L., TSP offers an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic biopolymers, aligning with the growing demand for natural materials. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, mucoadhesive, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory. TSP has been used extensively in food and pharmaceuticals. Various parts of the tamarind tree have been used in traditional medicine across different cultures around the world, thus TSP has been studied extensively for its impact in treating skin conditions, stubborn wounds and arthritis management. Owing to its non-toxic and healing nature, TSP can be explored as a valuable biomaterial for tissue engineering. This review thoroughly explores TSP's attributes, extraction, and extensive utilization across various sectors, with a main focus on drug delivery, wound healing and tissue engineering. The structure and general properties along with its visco-elastic properties were discussed briefly. The various chemical modifications of TSP which further improve its biodegradability and mucoadhesivity were also discussed. Further, other applications of TSP such as in packaging materials, mineral separation, battery technologies, thermal insulation, cosmetic formulations, agriculture, waste water and land treatments were briefly mentioned to emphasize the versatility of TSP.

The review also mentions TSP's diverse applications, ranging from mineral separation and battery technologies to thermal insulation and cosmetic formulations, to emphasize its versatility.