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AFRAMOMUM MELEGUETA
Cristiana Puiu
AFRAMOMUM MELEGUETA
Common names: grains of
paradise, melegueta
pepper, alligator pepper,
Guinea grains, Guinea
pepper
 Family: Zingiberaceae,
which includes ginger,
turmeric, and cardamom
 Herbaceous perennial
shrub, grows in West
African coastal swamps

AFRAMOMUM MELEGUETA
Flowers are purple,
trumpet-shaped,
which develop into 5 –
7 cm pods with many
reddish-brown seeds
 From the plant, the
seeds are utilized,
which have a pungent
odor with a pepper-like
heat (must be ground
before consumption)

ACTIVE COMPOUND
Carophyllene – a
bicyclic
sesquiterpene
 Responsible for the
spiciness of the
seed
 Pungent peppery
taste caused by
aromatic ketones

TRADITIONAL USES
Commonly used in North and West African
cuisine, where it was imported via caravan
routes throughout the Sahara desert and
ended at Sicily and Italy
 In West African folk medicine, it was valued for
its warming and digestive properties
 Nigeria: Efik people used it for divination and
ordeals determining guilt
 Caribbean Islands: used as medicine and for
religious (voodoo) rites

HISTORICAL USES
Important spice in 14th and 15th century
Europe, when the route to India had not been
discovered yet and spices were scarce
 Was a common substitute for black pepper
 During the Renaissance, after black pepper
outran grains of paradise as the favorite
kitchen spice, it was used as sausage and beer
flavoring
 The Ménagier de Paris used it to treat wine that
“smelled stale”

MEDICINAL USES
Purgative, galactogogue, anthelminthic, antiinflammatory, hemostatic agent
 Effective against schistosomiasis, intestinal
infection, infestations, indigestion, heartburn

MODERN USES



Largely unknown outside of
North and West Africa
Used as flavoring for beers
(like Samuel Adams Summer
Ale), gins, and Norwegian
aquavit
Used by people on raw-food
diets, because it is less
irritating to the stomach
than black pepper
INTERESTING INFORMATION

On the cooking show Good Eats, Alton Brown is
a fan of its use, and used it in an apple pie on
an episode!
REFERENCES
"AFRAMOMUM MELEGUETA - ALLIGATOR PEPPER." Tropilab Inc. exporter and wholesaler
of medicinal plants and products, herbs, seeds and cut flowers. . N.p., n.d. Web. 21
Nov. 2010. <http://www.tropilab.com/nengrekondrepepre.html>.
"Aframomum melegueta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2010.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aframomum_melegueta>.
"Aframomum melegueta | Medicinal Plants." Bitterroot Restoration | Home. N.p., n.d.
Web. 1 Dec. 2010. <http://www.bitterrootrestoration.com/medicinalplants/aframomum-melegueta.html>.
"Caryophyllene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caryophyllene>.
Katzer, Gernot. " Spice Pages: Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta, Guinea
pepper, Malaguetta pepper) ." Karl-Franzens-Universitaet Graz. N.p., 25 Apr. 1998.
Web. 21 Nov. 2010. <http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Afra_mel.html>.
"Zingiberaceae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zingiberaceae>.
Olea europaea ssp. Africana
Omer Kineish
General Information
•
•
•
•
•
Common Names: African Olive, Wild Olive, Brown Olive, Iron Tree, Kau
Family: Oleaceae
African olive is a perennial shrub or a small to medium sized tree.
Average Height: 5-10 meters (Can also grow up to 18 meters)
Description. The bark is grayish brown, the leaves are narrow in shape and
are green to shiny dark green, the flowers can be creamy white to light
purple with a sweet scent, and the fruits are dark brown to black when
they are mature.
• Origin: Southern Africa occurring in a variety of habitats, usually near
water, on stream banks, in riverine fringes, but also in open woodland,
among rocks and in mountain ravines.
• It is highly tolerant to wind, frost, and drought.
• Found widely in the African countries of Kenya, Mozambique, South
Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Active Compounds
• Some active compounds found in African Olive
are flavonoids, saponins, loperamide, and
triterpene steroids.
• The main active compound found in the olive
leaf is Oleuropein.
Traditional Uses
• East Africa: the trunk bark is pounded and soaked
overnight and is taken orally for tapeworm
infestation.
• Kenya: the stems and twigs are used as a chewing
stick for a mouth cleanser.
• The Wandorobo and Kipsigis of Kenya use a root
or bark decoction as a remedy for malaria.
• Early settlers of South Africa used the fruit to help
fight diarrhea.
• Herbal tea can be made from leaves and ink can
be made from the juice of the olive fruit.
Current Uses
• Food: Olive oil is used with various foods and
cooking purposes and the olive fruit is eaten for
nutritional value.
• The oleuropein compound is the compound
which accounts for antimicrobial properties as
well as anti-oxidative properties.
• Also can be taken orally to treat soar throat,
kidney problems, and hypertension.
• Dried leaf extracts also currently used to help
increase hepatic activity.
References
• http://www.weblio.jp/img/dict/skbzk/plantsaa/oleafr_2.jpg
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/
• http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/sea/Products/AF
Dbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1232#Identity
• http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/oleaeurop.htm
• http://www.envirolea.com/images/OleuropeinMolecule.jp
g
• Medicinal plants of the world: chemical constituents,
traditional and modern plants: By Ivan A. Ross
• http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Olea_
europaea_ssp._africana.pdf
• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1211/jpp.62.03.0012/
full
ALOE VERA
Ani Khachatryan
Taxonomy
 Aloe barbadensis, also known as Aloe vera is part of the Liliaceae
plant family. Aloe is native to East and South Africa and is grown
in most subtropical and tropical locations, including Latin America
and the Caribbean.
 Common names - miracle plant, burn
plant, first-aid-plant, lily of the desert,
plant of immortality etc.
 Aloe Vera also known as the true or
medicinal aloe. There are over 500
species of Aloe, which are frequently
cited as being used in herbal medicine.
General Information
 Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant growing
to 24–39 in. tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and
fleshy, green to grey-green and the margin of the leaf has small
white teeth.
 The flowers are produced in summer
on a spike up to 35 in tall, each flower
pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla
2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long.
Medicinal uses

Aloe Vera has been in use for almost 4000 years and the earliest record
of the medicinal uses of Aloe Vera was found in a Sumerian tablet dating
2100 BC. Aloe Vera has been widely used by the ancient Indians, Chinese,
Greeks, Romans and the Egyptian. The benefits of Aloe Vera have been
found in many ancient records.
 One of medicinal uses of Aloe Vera is laxative. It has been scientifically
found that the inner lining of its leaves have aloin, which is one of the
ingredients used in the laxatives. It is available in capsule form.
 The fresh juice of Aloe Vera is used to cure and heal rashes, foot sores and
fungus attack of various types.
Medicinal Uses
 Aloe Vera is used in hair loss treatment. The enzyme content of
Aloe Vera prevents hair loss by protecting the scalp against any diseases.
Aloe Vera also helps in the reduction of dandruff. You can mix the
juice of Aloe Vera with coconut milk and wheat germ oil and
massage your scalp before shampooing your hair.
It helps in hair re-growth.
 Aloe Vera gel we can use for general skin care. Use the gel alone or
along with skin cream to help better soften and moisturize the
skin. Because aloe regenerates skin cells it is also known to
reduce wrinkles, eczema, acne, sun/age spots. is also gentle
enough to use to care for the tender skin after radiation therapy
Major side effects of using Aloe Vera:
• Some times internal use of Aloe vera latex may turn
urine red, can cause abdominal pain
• Using aloe vera for more than one year may result in
higher risk of colorectal cancer.
• Another side effect is the lowering of blood sugar
levels
• Overdose can cause blood build-up in the pelvis,
kidney damage, and in some cases may lead death.
Constituents
 There are over 100 active biologic constituents found within
aloe. The plant is a rich source of many natural healthpromoting substances including:
• Vitamins/Minerals - Vitamin C, A, E, B vitamins, B-carotene,
Zinc, Calcium, Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, and
Phosphorous.
• Enzymes - At least five different enzymes have been identified
and likely more are contained within.
• Amino Acids - Twenty-two amino acids are found within aloe.
• Plant sterols - These plant based compounds are potent antiinflammatory agents.
REFERENCES
1. Aloe Vera - A scientific approach: David,Rober.
Vantage Press Inc, 1997.
2. . Bruce W. Investigations of the antibacterial activity
in the aloe. S Afr Med J 1967;41:984.
3. . Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al, eds.
The Complete Commission E Monographs:
Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston,
MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998,
80–81
Commiphora myrrha
Lien Pham
Description
• Commiphora myrrha is a sturdy,
spiny shrub or small tree, usually
with a distinct short trunk up to 4
m tall.
• It is one of the primary trees
used in the production of myrrh,
a resin made from dried tree sap.
• Part Used: The oleo-gum-resin
from the stem.
• The oleo-gum resin exudes from
fissures or incisions in the bark as
a pale yellow liquid, which dries
into reddish-brown irregular
masses or clumps of the size of a
walnut.
Taxonomy
• Common names
– Myrrh
– Myrrh tree
– African myrrh
– Somali myrrh
• Family
– Burseraceae: includes trees and shrubs
Distribution
• Africa
– Northeast Tropical Africa: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia,
– East Tropical Africa: Kenya
• Asia-Temperate
– Arabian peninsula:
Oman, Yemen
Habitat of Growth
• Dry regions in open
bushlands or thickets
• Grows best in thin soil (i.e.
slopes & valleys), primarily
in areas w/ limestone
• Grows at an altitude of
about 250-1300m, w/ a
yearly mean rainfall of
about 230-300mm
Chemical Composition
• Myrrh is composed of:
– gum, about 50%
– resin (including commiphoric
acids), up to 40%
– volatile oil (containing
heerabolene, limonene,
dipentene, pinene, eugenol,
cinamal-dehyde,
cuminaldehyde, etc), about
8%
Traditional Uses
• Myrrh is a constituent of perfumes and incense, and was
highly prized in ancient times.
• It is referred in the Bible as an ingredient in the holy oil of the
Jews.
• Myrrh was used as a wine preservative in the ancient world.
• It was used by Egyptians in embalming mixtures.
• It was also used as an aromatic for perfumes, funerals, and
insect repellents.
• Ancient Greek and Roman physicians used it to treat wounds,
and prescribed it internally as a digestive aid and
menstruation promoter.
• It was also used as a remedy for numerous infections,
including leprosy and syphilis.
• Myrrh was an important trade item in ancient times.
Cultural Uses
• Myrrh is most commonly used in Chinese
medicine for rheumatic, arthritic and circulatory
problems.
• Myrrh is used more frequently in Ayurveda,
Unani medicine and Western herbalism, which
ascribe to it tonic and rejuvenative properties.
• Myrrh (Daindhava) is used in many rasayana
formulas in Ayurveda, formulas which are nontoxic tonics which will strengthen anyone
regardless of constitutional type.
Common Current Uses
• In western pharmacy this herb is a powerful antiseptic
and is a strong cleaning and healing agent, soothing
the body and speeding the healing process
– Cleansing purifying agent since ancient times
• It is most often used in mouthwashes, gargles and
tooth pastes for fighting and preventing gum disease
– Infections of the mouth (mouth ulcers, gingivitis)
• Myrrh is currently used in some lotions, healing salves
that may be applied to abrasions and other minor skin
ailments (i.e. skin ulcers, bed sores, athlete’s foot for
fungal infections)
• Other uses: cosmetics, incense, perfumes
Legend of myrrh
• A legendary account of the origin of myrrh is found in a
Syrian myth, which was later adopted by the Greeks.
According to this legend, Myrrha, the daughter of the King
of Syria, Thesis, refused to worship Aphrodite and was
cruelly punished by the goddess, who caused her to
commit incest with her father. With the help of her nurse,
Myrrha disguised herself and deceived her father for eleven
nights, but on the twelfth night Thesis realized who she
was. Furious at her, he threatened to kill Myrrha and began
chasing her with a knife. To save her, the gods transformed
her into a myrrh tree. The clear gum resin exuded by the
tree is said to represent Myrrha's tears.
References
• http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Commiphora_myrrha
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commiphora_myrrha
• http://www.plantsasmedicine.com/~cleanen2/index.php?title=Commipho
ra_myrrha
• http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/133259/
• http://www.anniesremedy.com/herb_detail38.php
• http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/commiphora.html
• http://findmeacure.com/2007/08/01/myrrh/
• http://www.mdidea.com/products/proper/proper01705.html
• http://www.cactusart.biz/schede/COMMIPHORA/Commiphora_myrrha/Commiphora_myrrh
a/Commiphora_myrrha.htm
• http://www.globalherbalsupplies.com/herb_information/myrrh.htm
• http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?402550
• http://www.mdidea.com/products/proper/proper01705.html