Aframomum melegueta as its botanical name is also known as Afrika kakulesi, melegueta pepper, ginny pepper, Guinea pepper, "Atare" for the yorubas and "Ntuen Ibok" for the ibibios.

 The fruit contains many small brownish seeds with a sharp peppery, bitter, pungent, and aromatic flavor.

 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF ALLIGATOR PEPPER

1. Consumption Purposes

Alligator pepper is a popular spice that is normally snacked upon, especially by elders and sometimes youths. In traditional meetings and events such as baby naming ceremonies, traditional marriages, burial ceremonies, town meetings etc, the alligator pepper is usually served together with kola nuts and peanut butter (ósè ọ́jị́) as part of the customary rites.

 

Both the seeds and leaves can also be used for garnishing salads and for preparing assorted dishes such as pepper soup, stews, chicken and lamb dishes etc. Its hot peppery and pungent flavor augments dishes and makes them spicy. While cooking, alligator pepper can be substituted with black pepper, piper guineense, or black cardamom. The seeds are usually ground before adding to dishes as they tend to be a little bit hard.

 

Furthermore, the beer industry normally uses alligator pepper for strengthening and flavoring alcoholic beverages such as gin, beer, wine, and ale.

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2. Anti-oxidizing Properties

Alligator pepper seeds are an excellent source of phytonutrients such as terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, saponin and phenolic compounds. They scavenge for free radicals and offer protection against viruses, allergens, microbes, platelet aggregation, tumors, ulcers and hepatotoxins (chemical liver damage) in the body. This suggests why it is commonly used in folk medicine for preventing and tackling intestinal problems.

 

3. Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders

The seed extracts of the alligator pepper can be used for treating gastrointestinal disorders such as stomach pain, diarrhea, ulcer and intestinal worms.

 

4. Wound Healing

The seeds can be crushed and used for preparing concoctions for treating and healing wounds. Alligator pepper contains a high amount of tannin that is distinguished by its stringent property and as such it is very effective for healing wounds, treating burns and soothing inflamed mucous membrane.

 

5. Antimicrobial Properties

The seed extract has antimicrobial properties due to its constituents of phenolic compounds that are normally used as disinfectants. Studies reveal that Aframomum melegueta extract is broad-spectrum and as such has an inhibitory effect on the growth of bacteria such as Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia etc.

 

6. Aphrodisiac Properties

Studies reveal that the alligator pepper is

aphrodisiac in nature thus can be used for stimulating sexual desires.

 

7. Anti-inflammatory Properties

The seed has anti-inflammatory properties

due to its constituent of gingerol that inhibits the leukotriene and prostaglandins synthesis. It offers protection against inflammation of the body.

 

8. Analgesic Properties

The aqueous extract of the plant is analgesic in nature and as such can be used for relieving and alleviating pains such as joint pain, toothache, stomach pain, arthritic pain, and rheumatoid pain.

 

 

9. Stimulating Properties

Due to its stimulating properties and peppery pungent taste, the alligator pepper is normally chewed as a stimulant to keep

the body alert.

 

10. Malaria Treatment

The leaves are used for preparing herbal

medicines for preventing and treating malaria.

 

11. Digestive Properties

The seeds aid easy digestion of food thereby preventing constipation and bloating.

 

Side Effects of Alligator Pepper

There are no recorded side effects of the alligator pepper however pregnant and lactating mothers are encouraged not to consume it based on the following reasons;

 

An experiment by Inegbenebor et al., (2009)

show that a high dosage of alligator pepper administered to pregnant rats led to the termination of their first trimester pregnancies. Based on this report, pregnant women in their first trimester are highly recommended to refrain from eating the alligator pepper in other to avoid miscarriages.

 

Lactating mothers should avoid taking alligator pepper in high quantities as it can reduce prolactin secretion. Prolactin is a hormone released from the pituitary gland that stimulates milk production after childbirth.

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