Pepper fruit, which is botanically known as
Dennettia tripetala G. Baker, belongs to the Annonaceae family. It is well
known as mmimmi by the igbo people of Nigeria (West Africa), Ata Igebere or
igberi by the Yorubas, Imako by the Niger Deltas and Urhobo, ako by Bini,
Nkarika by the Efik and Ibibio. It is a pungent, pepperish, spicy medicinal
plant that is characterised by greenish appearance when unripe but tends to be
reddish or pinkish in colour when ripe.
People consume
the fruit during cultural ceremonies, coronations, traditional marriages,
naming ceremonies, new yam festivals and other events in the eastern part of
Nigeria. The fruit is usually found in the tropical region of West African
especially Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon. Pepper fruit tree thrives mainly
in the Savannah and rainforest zones while the fruit usually ripens between
April and May.
Edible mature
pepper fruit is mostly chewed raw but can also be used for food preparations
and for preparing herbal medicines. Both the fruits, leaves, roots and barks of
the Dennettia tripetala plant are distinguished by their strong pungent, spicy
and pepperish taste, fragrance and aroma.
Health benefits of Nigeria Pepper fruit are:
Treatment of Typhoid: The leaves and fruits of the pepper fruit can
be used for preparing herbal medicines for treating typhoid.
Reduces the growth of prostate cancer cells and treat them: A study
from University of Illinois at Chicago in United States found that extract of
Nigerian pepper fruit has the ability to press or reduce the growth of prostate
cancer cells.
Minimizes Cancer Risk: Pepper fruit is an excellent source of
flavonoids, which have been proven effective for reducing the onset of cancer
attacks
Source of antioxidant: Flavonoids and ascorbic acid are
antioxidants in Nigerian that eliminates free radicals in the body. As the
fruit ripened, the antioxidant tends to be decreased. As the total phenol in
the fruit increases, the potential antioxidant is automatically being reduced.
Cures liver and kidney damage: Extract of Nigerian pepper fruit
will cure the damage that happens to liver and kidney damage. Nigerian pepper
fruit ameliorates the damage in liver and kidney, which linked to the impact of
multiple exposures to carbon tetrachloride.
Acts as insecticidal property: Hexanolic extract from it can toxic
the larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Consequently, the fruit is potential
as insecticidal property.
Treatment of Infantile Convulsion: The leaves and fruits of the
pepper fruit can be used for preparing herbal medicines for treating infantile
convulsion. Infantile convulsion is a neurological genetic disorder notable for
its autosomal dominant mode of inheritance
Controls blood sugar level: It controls blood sugar level, due to
its antihyperglycemic effect.
Anti-inflammatory Properties: Essential oil from pepper fruit
contains anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. As a result, the essential
oil can be used for reducing body inflammation and pain.
Heals womb after giving birth: Some people have believed that
Nigerian pepper fruit helps to heal the womb of mothers after giving birth. Facts
also revealed that the seed can aid uterus contraction and therefore it is
recommended to be given immediately after mothers are giving birth to their
baby.
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