Alligator pepper: Seeds with healing power

Alligator pepper also known as mbongo spice or hepper pepper is a West African spice made from the seeds and seed pods of Aframomum danielli, A. citratum or A. exscapum. It is a close relative of grains of paradise, obtained from the closely related species, Aframomum melegueta or “grains of paradise”. Unlike grains of paradise, which are generally sold as only the seeds of the plant, alligator pepper is sold as the entire pod containing the seeds (in the same manner to another close relative, black cardamom).

Alligator pepper is one of the gift of nature that means different things to different people. It is served with cola nuts so that the guests can entertain themselves. It is also a common ingredient in pepper soup, a spicy delight in most of western and Asian and Africa.

However, since ancient times, alligator peppers have been used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases. The alligator pepper plant also has both medical and nutritional values, and the extracts of its seeds have been used as an antidote against many diseases.

The study indicates that alligator pepper is a stimulant and diuretic. Crushed seeds mixed with crushed bitter kola and water extract of bitter leaf all mixed with a proper amount of water is used to treat diabetes.