Usefulness of Alligator Pepper

What Is Local Name For Alligator Pepper In Nigeria?

Alligator Pepper is called Atare in the Yoruba language, ósè ọ́jị́ in the Igbo language, and Chitta in the Hausa language. It is called Alligator pepper because of bumps on the seeds looks like that of an alligator’s back. Black, pink, red, white and green — all colors of peppercorns you have seen, heard of or have in a grinder in your cupboard. They are all bright, punchy and a staple for most cuisines across the globe. However, there is a “new” (but actually ancient) pepper in town, alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta), which got its name from the reptilian-like bark on the seeds’ pod. Its seeds are also commonly known as grains of paradise because it was claimed by medieval spice traders that these peppery seeds grew only in Eden and had to be collected as they floated down the river, out of paradise. (We love a good origin story.) Other names for these seeds are melegueta pepper, Guinea grains, ossame or fom wisa.

What is alligator pepper?

Native to West Africa (which is sometimes fittingly referred to as the Pepper Coast) and a member of the ginger family, this pepper plant can grow up to five feet tall. It has thin, lance-like leaves that produce trumpet-shaped, purple flowers. As the flower blooms, it begins to develop into 5-to-7-centimeter-long, grayish-brown, wrinkled, alligator-skin–like, dried pods that contain the very small seeds.

Alligator pepper got its name from the reptilian-like bark on the seeds’ pod.Tom Grundy / Alamy

During the harvesting season, men and younger children will go collect the pods from the plant while women remove the seeds from the pulp by cracking it open and smacking them out with their hands or the side of a knife. The seeds are then placed on leaves and left out to dry in the sun. Once completely dried, they are tightly wrapped inside the leaves and sold.

Uses of Alligator Pepper

Alligator pepper has a lot of Culinary and spiritual uses.

Some of the culinary uses of Alligator pepper includes using it as a spice to spice up foods like chicken, lamb, cake. And using it flavouring in alcoholic drinks like beer, ale and gin. 

Also, alligator pepper is commonly used for spiritual jobs like protection from evil attacks, guns and poison. And also for the treatment of physical and spiritual diseases. 

Can Alligator Pepper Terminate Pregnancy?

Alligator pepper has been used to terminate pregnancy in traditional medicine. More modern research is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.  

Inegbenebor, Ebomoyi, Onyia, Amadi and Aigbiremolen (2008) carried out an experiment to determine the health risk or benefit of Alligator pepper to pregnant women if any. Fifteen male rats and fifteen female rats of proven fertility from a pilot study were randomly paired in fifteen cages in a well ventillated room. After three days of mating, the males were withdrawn from the females, which were allowed to stay in their separate maternity cages for 18-25 days. The females in the control group were fed with normal rat chow and clean drinking water ad libitum for the duration of the experiment. Each of the rats in the experimental group was served 20 g of rat chow mixed with 50mg of Alligator pepper for one day only and thereafter fed with normal rat chow and clean drinking water ad libitum for 18-25 days. The rats in the control group had a mean of 7 litters each, while the rats in the experimental group did not litter at all. It was concluded that ingestion of large quantities of Alligator pepper poses a health risk to women in their first trimester of pregnancy

Does Alligator Pepper Boost Sperm?

Research studies have shown that Alligator pepper can help men suffering from premature ejaculation by improving sperm and semen. Also, studies show that Alligator pepper has aphrodisiac properties.

How Do You Eat Alligator Peppers?

Alligator pepper is eaten with kola nut in the eastern part of Nigeria. And it is commonly used spice in making pepper soup

Do Alligator Peppers Reduce Prolactin?

A study revealed a significant drop in Prolactin in non-lactating rats treated with Alligator pepper seed.

Is Alligator Pepper Good For High Blood Pressure?

A research study showed that Alligator pepper seed had a great influence on blood pressure in both hypertensive and non-hypertensive people.

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Health Benefits Of Alligator Pepper

Here are some of the potential health benefits of using alligator pepper 

1. Weight Loss

Some research studies show that alligator pepper can help in fat loss and in boosting metabolism.

For example, a randomised controlled study on 19 non-obese women who were given a daily dose of alligator pepper lost some body fat [1]

Another study on 19 healthy young men given Alligator pepper showed an increase in energy expended AKA metabolism [2]

2. May Help Remedy Erectile Dysfunction 

Alligator pepper has long been regarded as an aphrodisiac in traditional medicine.

https://c3b628c3338268fa542d6fc346ed7c3d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html A modern scientific study showed that alligator pepper may help inhibit enzymes that might contribute to erectile dysfunction [3]

3. May Help Boost Testosterone

Some animal studies have shown Alligator pepper to help boost testosterone. Like a study done on rat given alligator pepper saw a significant increase in T levels [4]

That said, more human trial is needed to ascertain alligator pepper’s  testosterone-boosting effect on humans.

4. Anti-Diabetes Property 

West African Medicine has long used Alligator pepper for managing diabetes. 

And modern scientific studies show that alligator pepper helps in increasing insulin production in hypoinsulinemic animals. 

5. Anti-Poison Properties

Scientists suspect that Alligator pepper may contain anti-poison properties due to its antioxidant content, which can suppress inflammatory responses. 

A study carried out on rats found out that rats that were given Alligator pepper were protected from a common research liver poison, carbon tetrachloride [5]

5. Antibacterial Property 

Compounds in Alligator pepper extract (like phenolic and diterpenes) has been scientifically shown to inhibit the growth of a wide range of bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and so on.

6. Help Treat Skin Infections 

Due to Alligator pepper’s anti-bacterial action, it is widely used to treat various skin infections like chickenpox, measles and smallpox [6]

7. Treatment Of Stomach & Intestinal Issues 

Alligator pepper extract is potent in taking care of a range of gastrointestinal problems like bloating, constipation, ulcer, and stomach pain. It also aids food digestion. 

8. Treatment Of Wound 

The high quantity of tannin found in Alligator pepper makes it an excellent wound healer. It is effective in not just healing wounds but treating burns too.

9. Analgesic Properties

Alligator pepper extract is analgesic in nature which can be quite useful in relieving all sorts of pains including toothache,  joint pain, rheumatoid pain and so on.

10. Aphrodisiac Properties

Studies have shown that alligator pepper is a potent aphrodisiac in both males and females.

The whole plant is used, not just for its peppercorns, but also for medical purposes: The rhizomes (aka rootstalks) are traditionally used as antimicrobial and antifungal remedies; the long leaves are used as a treatment for measles and gastrointestinal issues; and the seeds have anti-inflammatory properties.

Other uses

The traditionalist says the spiritual meaning of Alligator pepper is “water of the spirits”. As it is difficult to cook without water.

The extract of the seed of Alligator pepper has long been used traditionally to prevent and cure infectious diseases, and also the treatment of wounds.

Alligator pepper is a good source of various minerals, including calcium, magnesium and zinc. The amino acids, which are used to build proteins, found in alligator pepper include l-Threonine; humans don’t naturally produce this amino acid so we need to get it from our diet. Alligator pepper contains many antioxidants, which come in the form of flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids, providing benefits that include scavenging free radicals in the body that can cause inflammation.

How do you use alligator pepper?

Once crushed, the seeds release a combination of flavor notes — from the initial pungent, peppery flavor to a floral aroma with hints of jasmine, cardamom and clove. It’s a little nutty, earthy, citrusy and can even have menthol and eucalyptus notes. If you bite into one, you’ll notice that the peppery heat slowly intensifies and develops on your palate. They are great used as a spice rub for fish, especially if you toast them in a dry frying pan before crushing.

Conclusion

Alligator pepper shows promise in helping out with various health issues. However, a lot of its benefits have little to no research studies to back them up. So, it should not be used as a substitute for treating any diseases or medical conditions, see your doctor instead. 

Sources

https://www.today.com/food/how-use-alligator-pepper-aka-grains-paradise-t213570