Potential of Ethanolic Extract (98%) of Tamarindus indica L. Leaves as A Functional Food to Prevent COVID and Heart Failure

Background: SARS COVID - 19, an infectious disease that is declared as pandemic by WHO and emerging again with newer strains. Heart failure is another deadly disease condition to which geriatric population is more susceptible. Few phytochemicals present in tamarind leaves like apigenin and epicatechin were reported to inhibit the SARS - COV - 2 enzyme named PDB ID : 6 LU7. Ethanolic extract of tamarind leaves was also proposed to reduce the prolongation of QT and RR intervals of ECG in Wistar rats along with lowering the serum enzymes' levels like LDH and CPK indicating cardiac protection in doxorubicin induced cardiac toxicity characterized by heart failure. Ethanolic extract of tamarind leaves was suggested to be used as a safer antioxidant to check MRSA endocarditis and heat stress. Methods: Fresh tamarind leaves were collected and dried under shade at normal room temperature to prepare coarse powder by a sterilized pestle and mortar. Ethanolic Extract of dried tamarind leaves was extracted using 98% ethanol by Soxhlet Apparatus used for extraction of 98 % ethanolic extract of dried tamarind leaves at a range of 60 degree to 70 degree centigrade. Ethanolic extract ( 98% ) of dried tamarind leaves' powder was then evaporated to dryness by keeping the extract in Hot Air Oven used for drying of ethanolic extract ( 98% ) of tamarind leaves at 60 degree centigrade. Dried ethanolic extract ( 98% )of tamarind leaves was provided to willingly participated septic arthritic patients orally at 1 gram / Kg bodyweight after 2 hours of breakfast once daily orally up to consecutive 28 days depending on severity of septic arthritis duly diagnosed by their registered doctors. Results: Septic arthritic patients responded well to the treatment of ethanolic extract (98%) of tamarind leaves at recommended dosage regimen which was evaluated by due recording of recovery from swelling, pain, redness and other characteristic signs of septic arthritis. As ethanolic extract (98%) of tamarind leaves produced curative effects in the affected joint or joints which are pharmacokinetically considered under peripheral compartment of the body, the extract can easily reach the organs like heart, lungs, liver, kidney and even brain those come under central compartment of the body according to pharmacokinetic principles. Moreover, the phytochemicals present in ethanolic extract ( 98% ) of tamarind leaves acted in septic arthritis of peripheral joints means these can reach at sufficient concentrations to other peripheral organs also and can produce protective effects against corona virus infection by inhibiting SARS - COV - 2 enzyme named PDB ID : 6 LU7. The extract can easily reach at sufficient concentration to heart and may reduce the prolongation of QT and RR intervals of ECG in cardiac diseases' suffering patients. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of dried tamarind leaves extracted by 98% ethanol can be well utilized as ethical preventive therapies for COVID and heart failure more particularly for geriatric population those have compromised metabolism and excretion systems for synthetic drugs due to their old age and ageing factors