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Annals of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Volume 3, Issue 1, 2020, PP 1-6
ISSN 2637-5346
Annals of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases V3 ● I1 ● 2020 1
Aframomum Melegueta (Grains of Paradise)
Oludare Temitope Osuntokun
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo
State, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author: Oludare Temitope Osuntokun, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of
Science, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, Email:
osuntokun4m@gmail.com,oludare.osuntokun@aaua.edu.ng
INTRODUCTION
Aframomum melegueta (Grains of Paradise) is a
spice with a similar composition as Ginger that
belongs to the same Zingiberaceae family. It is
used in Nigeria, West Africa. Aframomum
melegueta (Grains of Paradise) has being in
used for the treatment of infectious diseases
such as urinary tract infections caused by
Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae,
Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus
saprophyticus, Proteus mirabilis, methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella
spp, and Shigella spp. It shows some promise in
fat-mass control at doses possibly consumable
in food products and medicinal concoction
(Moret, 2013).
Aframomum Melegueta (Grains of Paradise) has
different names such as grains of paradise, Atare
(in Yoruba), chitta (Hausa), or Guinea pepper, is
one seed with many healing power and its
benefits to mankind seems endless. Aframomum
melegueta is an herbaceous perennial
plant native to swampy habitats along the West
African coast of Nigeria. Its trumpet-shaped,
purple flowers develop into 5 to 7 cm
long pods containing numerous small, reddish-
brown seeds. melegueta pepper, and alligator
pepper, aframomum melegueta is among the
species that belong in the ginger family
Zingiberaceae. It is most abundantly in the
countries of Ghana, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo,
and Nigeria (Inegbenebor 2009).
The taxonomical classification of the plant is as
follows: Plantae (kingdom), Tracheophyta
(phylum), Liliopsida (class), Zingiberales (order),
Zingiberaceae (family), Aframomum (genus) and
Aframomum melegueta (species). This plant can
grow up to 1.5 m in height with orange-coloured
lips and pinkish-orange upper flowers that can
develop into fleshly and indehiscent pods. The
size of the pods are 5-7 cm in length, are edible
and contain numerous small, reddish brown
seeds (Figure 1) with a pungent scent of ginger
and cayenne pepper. The stem bark is short and
covered with scars of fallen leaves. The leaves
are about 30 cm long, 12 cm wide, and have
close nerves underneath (Ilic et al., 2010). The
leaves average 35 cm in length and 15 cm in
width, with a well-structured vascular system.
The flowers of the herbaceous plant are
aromatic, with an orange-colored lip and rich
pinkish-orange upper part. The fruits contain
numerous, small, golden red-brown seeds,
ABSTRACT
Aframomum melegueta is an herbaceous plant consumed as an edible spice and traditionally used to treat
common ailments in Nigeria , such as body pains, diarrhea, sore throat, catarrh and rheumatism. Based on
current reserach, different parts of the plant possess specific secondary metabolites such as flavonoids,
phenolic compounds, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and cardiac glycosides that have healing
potential and medicinal and therapeutic purposes. It has polyphenolic content flavonoids; which is
comparatively high to other African spices Aframomum melegueta has the ability to lower body fat
percentage, and decreased waist-hip ratio without any harmful side effects..
The uses of Aframomum melegueta (Grains of Paradise) appears to limitless ranging from the treatment of
cancer,diabetic and inflammation.The purpose of this review of geared toward an eye open to Aframomum
melegueta (Grains of Paradise) it limitless efficacy and therapeutic abilities as a new tread of natural
antibiotics for the developing country like Nigeria, which is less expensive and very available as a source
for the treatment of infection
Aframomum Melegueta (Grains of Paradise)
2 Annals of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases V3 ● I1 ● 2020
Aframomum melegueta (Grains of Paradise)
means different things to different people. It is
served along with Kola-nuts to guests for
entertainment in Igbo land. It is a common
ingredient in pepper soup, a spicy delight in
most parts of West Africa, Nigeria. The
Aframomum melegueta (Grains of Paradise)
plant has both medicinal and nutritive values
and the extracts of its seeds has been used as an
antidote to dysentery and diarrhoea. It is an
effective herb for the treatment of snake bite.
(Villarreal,et al,. (2010).
Figure1. Aframomum melegueta
A common condiment in West Africa,Nigeria,
has been used as a spice for meats, sauces and
soups. Traditionally, Aframomum Melegueta is
mixed with other herbs for the treatment of
common ailments such as body pains, diarrhoea,
sore throat, catarrh, congestion and rheumatism
in West Africa,Nigeria (Ajaiyeoba & Ekundayo,
1999). It is a perennial herbal plant that is
cultivated because of its valuable medicinal and
pharmacological effects such as antimicrobial,
hepato-protective, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic
effects (El-Halawany et al., 2014; Mohammed
et al., 2017; Ngwoke et al., 2014).
With reference to the current literature,
Aframomum melegueta contain 6-Gingerol, 8-
Gingerol and Methyl-6-Gingerol, 6-Shogaol,6-
and Rac-6-Dihydroparadol,6-Gingeredione,2-(5-
butylfuran-2-yl) ethyl}-2-methoxyphenol, While
6-Paradol is said the active ingredient among
these composition of Aframomum melegueta
extract, further studies on Aframomum
melegueta have reported its 6 paradol chemical
constituent to be biologically significant beyond
its medicinal value. For one, it has been found to
foster weight loss by promoting faster body
metabolism.
Cancer-battling antioxidants, flavonoids, have
been found in relative abundance in Aframomum
melegueta (Doherty et al., 2010). Flavonoids are
commonly reported to possess anti-carcinogenic
and anti-mutagenic effects (Aranganathan &
Nalini, 2013) in which they interfere with the
development of malignant tumors by inhibiting
the expression of mutant genes, inactivating
carcinogens and enzymes that are involved in
the activation of pro-carcinogens, as well as
activating enzymatic systems that are involved
in the detoxification of xenobiotics (Bravo,
1998).
Flavonoids also inhibits the initiation,
promotion and progression of tumours (Okwu,
2005; Urquiaga & Leighton, 2000). Quercetin, a
flavonoid which can decelerates the
development of tumours (Clifford et al., 1996),
it was also found to be present in the
Aframomum melegueta extract (Adefegha &
Oboh, 2012). Although past studies have
suggested that flavonoids isolated from various
plants are effective against cancer cells, there is
limited work on flavonoids isolated from
Aframomum melegueta.
In a previous study, evidence showed that
Aframomum melegueta extracts were effective
against pancreatic cancer (Dibwe et al., 2012).
Other supporting evidence includes a study by
Kuete et al. (2011) who showed that the
Aframomum melegueta extract exerted
significant inhibitory activities on human
pancreatic cancer and leukaemia cell lines.
Aframomum Melegueta (Grains of Paradise)
Annals of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases V3 ● I1 ● 2020 3
Phytochemical investigations of Aframomum
melegueta revealed the presence of (-)-buplerol,
(-)-arctigenin, (E)- 14-hydroxy-15-norlabda-
8(17), 12-dien- 16-al, labda-8(17),12-dien-
15,16-dial, 16-oxo-8(17),12(E)-labdadien-15-
oic acid, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone and
apigenin in the extract. Among the list, (-)-
arctigenin and (-)-buplerol showed the capacity
to trigger apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells
(Dibwe et al., 2015).
The anti-cancer ability of Aframomum
melegueta may not be attributed to flavonoids
alone but Paradols, common plant phenolic
compounds, are also found to exert anti-cancer
effects by inducing apoptosis in human pro-
myelocytic leukaemia (HL-60) cells. The effect
is due to the presence of a vanillyl moiety and
ketone functional group in the compound.
Additionally, paradols can also suppress tumour
promotion of the skin in vitro (Chung et al.,
2001).
In addition to its repertoire of therapeutic
effects, Aframomum melegueta may also prove
its worth in combating metabolic disorders such
as Type 1 and 2 diabetes. In this condition, the
body resists the physiological effect of insulin.
Therefore, too much insulin will remain in the
blood for extended periods of time, causing the
pancreas unable to secrete more insulin to
control the glucose level in the
blood(Gastaldelli, 2011).
A myriad of compounds found in Aframomum
melegueta such as 6-paradol, 6-shagaol, 6-
gingerol, oleanolic acid and acarbose exert an
anti-diabetic effect by inhibiting enzymes such
as α-amylase and α-glucosidase. These enzymes
are responsible for digestion and break down of
the carbohydrates and polysaccharides from
food into simple sugars to increase blood
glucose levels. Among the compounds, 6-
gingerol and oleanolic acid are more effective in
inhibiting the enzymes (Mohammed et al.,
2017). Aframomum melegueta is suitable for
consumption by diabetic patients, its
consumption will help a diabetic patient stay
healthy (Venugopal, ((2012).Aframomum
melegueta extract has been known to reduce fat
(weight loss) and even relieve painful arthritis
when it is used as a massage oil (essential oil
from plant like olive and citrus oil) (Odetunde et
al., 2015).
The ethanolic seed extract and stem bark of
Aframomum melegueta contains phytochemicals
such as tannins, saponins, flavonoids, steroids,
terpernoids, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids
that possess antimicrobial and anti-
inflammatory effects (Doherty et al., 2010;
Okwu, 2004). Okoli et al. (2007) it provides the
evidence that the methanolic Aframomum
melegueta extract and its fraction contained
alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids,
sterols and resins, with alkaloids and tannins as
the major compounds as the active ingredient.
Aframomum melegueta seeds contains
terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins,
cardiac glycosides, saponin and phenolic
compound which are natural antioxidant. They
scavenge for free radicals and offer protections
against viruses, allergens, microbes, platelet
aggregation, tumors, ulcers and hepatotoxins
(chemical liver damage) in the body. The fruit
pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten, or chewed
as a stimulant. The root is a pungent, stimulant
that benefits the digestion and relieves spasms
(Odetunde et al., 2015).
To support this claim of anti inflammation
properties of Aframomum melegueta , Ilic et al.
(2014) reported that the ethanolic Aframomum
melegueta extract inhibited cyclooxygenase-2
(COX-2). Compounds that inhibit COX-2
activity are capable of reducing inflammatory
responses (Seibert & Masferrer, 1994). The
most active COX-2 inhibitory compound in the
Aframomum melegueta extract was [6]-paradol,
while [6]-shogaol was found to inhibit
expression of a pro-inflammatory gene,
interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) (Osuntokun et al,.
2017). Aframomum melegueta crude extract and
its active ctompounds [6]-paradol, [6]-gingerol
and [6]-shogaol significantly reduced
inflammation in rats from the result collected
during the research use for this recent review.
In another study utilising the aqueous seed
extract of Aframomum melegueta, sub-chronic
inflammation was induced by formaldehyde or
nystatin, while chronic inflammation was
induced by carrageenan in rats. The results
revealed that Aframomum melegueta extract
significantly reduced oedema induced by
formaldehye and nystatin. Furthermore, it
reduced the exudate induced by carrageenan
(Umukoro & Ashorobi, 2005). Daily Ingestion
of Aframomum melegueta noted that the higher
dose was able to prevent an increase in liver
weight and fully abolish lipid peroxidation as
assessed and preserving both GSH and GST;
hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) was not
significantly influenced by Aframomum
melegueta The increase in serum AST and ALT
was also fully normalized.
Aframomum Melegueta (Grains of Paradise)
4 Annals of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases V3 ● I1 ● 2020
Another lesser-known finding is the
Aframomum melegueta on blood cell
production. When the methanolic seed and leaf
extract of Aframomum melegueta was
administered to 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-
induced anaemic rats, the treatment shows an
increase in haemoglobin levels and platelet
count, indicating its erythropoietic potential in
treating anaemia (Omoboyowa et al., 2017). In
other words,higher doses of the extract have
previously been observed to be haematotoxic
(Akpanabiatu et al., 2013), and thus the
administered dose should be selected with
caution because of its toxicity.
The appropriate dose of Aframomum melegueta
extract depends on several factors such as the
user’s age, health, and several other conditions.
At this time there is not enough scientific
information to determine an appropriate range
of doses for. Keep in mind that natural products
are not always necessarily safe and dosages can
be important.
A decoction of Aframomum melegueta is taken
internally in the treatment of a range of
disorders including painful menstruation,
excessive lactation, postpartum haemorrhage
(excessive bleeding during giving birth to a
baby) and infertility. The seeds and leaf of
Aframomum melegueta 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. The
seeds extracts of the alligator pepper can be
used for treating gastrointestinal disorders such
as stomach pain, diarrhea, ulcer and intestinal
worms.
The seeds of Aframomum melegueta 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. The aqueous extract of Aframomum
melegueta 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. Nigerian Journal of
Physiological Sciences in 2009, researchers
have reported that large doses of afromomum
melegueta may pose a potential health risk on
pregnant women who are in their first trimester
of pregnancy. On the other hand, there was no
report of any adverse side effect for men
Aframomum melegueta stem bark extract can be
used for preparing herbal remedy for treating
infectious skin diseases such as measles,
chickenpox and smallpox. Due to its stimulating
properties and peppery pungent taste, the
Aframomum melegueta is normally chewed as a
stimulant to keep the body alert. The leaves are
used for preparing herbal medicines for
preventing and treating malaria. The roots can
be harvested throughout the year and used fresh
or dried for later use. Aframomum melegueta
seeds also have a stimulant action on the
digestive system, strengthening and warming
the stomach. They are used to alleviate
indigestion, flatulence and bloating and help to
relieve abdominal discomfort due to colic or
griping.
In conclusion, Aframomum melegueta has been
found to be with no or very minimal side effects.
According to the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), Aframomum melegueta is included in
their list of botanicals that are generally
accepted as safe. People with known
hypersensitivity to ginger or cardamom should
take or use of Aframomum melegueta with
caution. Also, cases of drug-herb interactions
have not been reported yet up to date.
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Citation: Oludare Temitope Osuntokun, “Aframomum Melegueta (Grains of Paradise)”, Annals of
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 3(1), 2020, pp.1-6.
Copyright: © 2020 Oludare Temitope Osuntokun, This is an open-access article distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.