By Jack Atwiine
In my home town of Ibanda, there is a place called Katehe where we used to pick these wildly grown edibles called Alligator Pepper aka “amatehe” in my local dialect whenever we would go there to pick clay baked bricks and swamp stems “enfunjo” for building our classrooms and handiwork activities respectively in late 1970’s and early 1980’s.
They thrive in swampy areas.
To us, feasting on these “amatehe” was just like a hobby or to put it more plainly to cure hunger little did we that they had numerous health benefits as seen below:-
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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. It’s hot peppery and pungent flavour augments dishes and makes them spicy. While cooking, alligator pepper can be substituted with black pepper, grains of paradise, 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 the alligator pepper for strengthening and flavouring alcoholic beverages such as gin, beer, wine and ale.
Anti-oxidizing Properties Alligator pepper seeds are an excellent source of phytonutrients such as terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, saponin and phenolic compound. They scavenge for free radicals and offer protections 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.
Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders The seeds extracts of the alligator pepper can be used for treating gastrointestinal disorders such as stomach pain, diarrhea, ulcer and intestinal worms.
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.
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 inhibitory effect on the growth of bacteria such as Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia etc.
Aphrodisiac Properties: Studies reveal that the alligator pepper is aphrodisiac in nature thus can be used for stimulating sexual desires.
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.
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.
Dermatological Care: Alligator pepper can be used for preparing herbal remedy for treating infectious skin diseases such as measles, chickenpox and smallpox.
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.
Malaria Treatment: The leaves are used for preparing herbal medicines for preventing and treating malaria.
Digestive Properties: The seeds aid easy digestion of food thereby preventing constipation and bloating.
Wonder why our counterparts in village settings live longer than the urbanites ? Then wonder no more.
Villages provide its people with pure, organic and medicinal foods that prolong their lives than you can find anywhere in the world.
