A biodegradable glycosaminoglycan and a
galactoxyloglucan polysaccharide extracted from tamarind
(Tamarandus indica Linn. Family, Leguminosae) called as
TSP has been found to have a wide application in
pharmaceutical industry specially in ophthalmic
applications. A mucoadhesive polymer extracted from
tamarind seeds (xyloglucan, or tamarind seed
polysaccharide [TSP]) has been described as a viscosity
enhancer showing mucomimetic, mucoadhesive, Several
features make TSP an attractive candidate as a vehicle for
ophthalmic medicaments, since it (i) is completely devoid
of ocular toxicity ; (ii) has recently been put on the market
as a tear fluid substitute because of its activity in
preventing alterations of the corneal surface known as
keratoconjunctivitis sicca ; (iii) increases the cornealwound
healing rate ; (vi) reduces the in vitro toxicity
exerted by timolol, methiolate, and fluoroquinolones on
human conjunctival cells ; and (v) significantly increases
the corneal accumulation and intraocular penetration of
gentamicin and ofloxacin when administered topically to
healthy rabbits .