A Quick Read on
PEPPER FRUIT
{DENNETTIA TRIPETALA}
By Obasi Kelechi
Pepper Fruit
Dennettia tripetala (pepper fruit) is commonly known as ''mmimmi'' by the Igbo people of Nigeria, ''Ata Igebere'' or ''igberi'' by the Yorubas, ''Imako'' by the Urhobos, ''ako'' by the Binis, ''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.
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.
Pepper fruit has three green broad sepals and fleshy petals that are yellow in colour. The leaves are oblong in shape, alternates on each other and taper at the apex. The leaves can be dried and stored for a long period of time without any microbial attack. Dennettia tripetala fruits can serve as food and herbs for producing herbal medicines. Both the fruits, leaves and roots of the pepper fruit are useful for medicinal purposes.
Pepper fruit is effective for ethnomedical (traditional medical) purposes. Pepper fruit contains both volatile and essential oils. The taste, aroma and pungency of this fruit are as a result of its constituent of volatile and essential (oleoresins) oils. Pepper fruit is normally chewed as a fruity snack due to its peppery stimulating effects. It is normally served together with palm wine, garden eggs, bitter kola and kola nuts during festivals, cultural ceremonies, coronations, traditional marriages, naming ceremonies, new yam festivals and special events in the eastern part of Nigeria. Pepper fruit produces very pepperish effect when chewed; this peppery taste tends to stimulate people when they chew it.
This dominant West African tropical fruit is one of the essentially beneficial plants but many people are unaware of the wondrous things they stand to gain from this fruit. The highly nutritious fruit is rich in protein, carbohydrates, as well as the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. The plant possesses phytochemicals that have been shown to elicit antimicrobial, insecticidal, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Below are some health benefits of pepper fruit.
AMAZING BENEFITS OF PEPPER FRUIT
Dennettia tripetala contains 0.42% magnesium, 1.80% calcium, 2.50% potassium, 9.84% crude fibres, 15.31% crude protein, 8.0% moisture, 62% carbohydrate, 3.47% crude lipids, 0.33% phosphorus, trace elements such as cadmium, iron, zinc and copper. Pepper fruit also contains water-soluble vitamins such as niacin, ascorbic acid, riboflavin and thiamine; unripe pepper fruit contains higher amount of vitamin C, vitamin A and minerals more than the ripe ones. Thus it is highly recommended that people should consume Dennettia tripetala due to its high nutritional values. The phytochemical content of the pepper fruit and their results showed the presence of cyanogenic glycosides, saponins, tannins and flavonoids in this fruit. Both the fruit and the leaves were found to contain secondary metabolites such as phenol, carbohydrate, terpenes, flavonoids, tannin and alkaloids.
Edible Purposes- Dennettia tripetala fruit can be used as a pepperish spice for seasoning and flavouring food such as white soup, spicy fish, aromatic drinks, alcoholic drinks, beverages, meat, vegetables, stew, sauces and sausages. There is a possible substitution of ginger with pepper fruit in zobo drink production.
Post-partum Care- Pepper fruit seeds are essential for preparing food for newborn mothers immediately after childbirth as the spice aids uterus contraction. Pepper fruit can be used together with scotch bonnet peppers, piper guineese, utazi for hot soup preparations for new mothers.
Bactericidal Purposes- Dennettia tripetala seed extract are useful for both bactericidal and bacteriostatic purposes. As a result, the seed extract can be used for preventing and inhibiting the growth of bacteria and microorganism.
Treatment of Gastrointestinal Diseases- The leaves, fruits and roots of the pepper fruit can be used for producing herbal medicines for treating gastrointestinal diseases such as stomach upset, diarrhoea, vomiting and worm infestation.
Anti-inflammatory Properties- the 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.
Antimicrobial Properties- The leaf extract of pepper fruit contains antimicrobial properties and as such, effective for fighting against microbes.
Anti-ulcer Properties- the ethanol extract of pepper fruit seed has potent and dose-dependent anti-ulcer effect against aspirin-induced ulcer. This anti-ulcer effect of pepper fruit can be attributed to its flavonoid content.
Anthelmintic Properties- The leaves and fruits of the pepper fruit contain anthelmintic properties and as such can be used in combination with other herbs for destroying parasitic worms.
Glaucoma Intraocular Pressure (IOP) Reduction- Pepper fruit can significantly reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) up to 25% in people suffering from glaucoma.
Antinociceptive Effects- Pepper fruit has antinociceptive effects and as such can be used for reducing sensitivity to painful stimuli.
Insecticidal Purposes- Pepper fruit can be used for producing insecticides. The plant products are effective against pests, insects, Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.), maize weevil. The insecticidal activities of this plant can be attributed to its pungency and pepperish nature.
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. It is associated with benign familial infantile epilepsy (BIFE) especially between the age of three to twelve months and paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis later in life.
Minimizes Cancer Risk- Pepper fruit is an excellent source of flavonoids, which have been proven effective for reducing the onset of cancer attacks.
Pharmacological Properties- Pepper fruit can be used for pharmacological purposes due to its constituents of terpenes, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids. Moreover, the antimicrobial, anti-oxidizing, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties of both the fruits and leaves of the pepper fruit are known to exhibit high pharmacological effects.
Anti-viral Properties- Pepper fruit is effective for fighting against viruses such as cold, cough and fever. Cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that is characterized by watery eyes, sneezing, sore throat, coughing and nasal congestion.
Anti-emetic Properties- Pepper fruit is anti-emetic in nature being that it can be used for preventing or treating nausea and vomiting. Due to its antiemetic nature, pepper fruit can be used for treating motion sickness and for preventing the side effects of anaesthetics, opioid analgesics and cancer chemotherapy.
Treatment of Typhoid- The leaves and fruits of the pepper fruit can be used for preparing herbal medicines for treating typhoid.
Side Effects of Pepper Fruit
# Although pepper fruit causes contraction of the uterus, which is good for nursing mothers, it also can lead to adverse conditions and even forced or premature labor for pregnant women, especially in the third trimester.
# Eating too many, however, can cause some unwanted side effects, such as an upset stomach or heartburn. If you're sensitive to spice, you may also feel an uncomfortable burning sensation in your mouth, stomach irritation, sweating, and runny nose.
# Eating spicy food during pregnancy is 100 percent safe for your baby. Really! It can't hurt your little one. One small word of warning, though, hot and spicy food may neither cause a miscarriage nor increase your risk of having it but eating certain foods during pregnancy can change the “flavor” of your amniotic fluid, so it should not be abused.
Eat healthy, stay safe.
DISCLAIMER
This post is for enlightenment and should not be used as a replacement for professional medical diagnosis and treatments. Remember to always consult your healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions for any medical condition.
Obasi kelechi.
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