Effect of alligator pepper (Zingiberaceae <i>Aframomum melegueta</i>) on first trimester pregnancy in Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

Summary: Alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta) is a spice that is widely used in many cultures for entertainment, religious rites, food flavor and as a part of many traditional doctors medications. Pregnant women are among those who ingest Alligator pepper in these activities. This experiment was carried out 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 After three days of mating, the males were withdrawn from the females, which were allowed to stay in their separate maternity cages for 18-25 days.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.

Alligator pepper/Grain of Paradise ( Aframomum melegueta ) modulates Angiotensin-I converting enzyme activity, lipid profile and oxidative imbalances in a rat model of hypercholesterolemia

“…Lawal et al [39] reported the hypotensive and antihypertensive effects in both normotensive and hypertensive human subjects and suggested that these may be due to central effect linked to peripheral vasodilatation. Gestational weight gain which is the major causes of pre-eclampsia (elevated blood pressure during pregnancy) was reported to have been reduced by aqueous extract of Alligator pepper [32]. However, Alligator pepper is not usually considered to be important from the nutritional point of view, even though it is widely used as spice in food and folkloric medicine throughout the world for health benefits.…”

“…It is a tropical plant of genus Aframomum and belongs to the family Zingiberaceae (ginger family) of the angiosperms in the Kingdom plantae [31]. It is a spicy edible fruit that is cultivated in the tropics and often served along with kolanuts and alcoholic drinks to entertain guests [32]. Alligator pepper is popularly used as herbal remedy against a wide range of ailments in folkloric medicine in different parts of the world [31].…”

Propriétés anti-inflammatoires des extraits aqueux de <i>Sterculia setigera</i> Delile et du mélange <i>Aframomum melegueta</i> K. Schum – <i>Citrus aurantifolia</i> Christm et Panzer

“…Au Bénin et au Nigéria, elle est utilisée comme ingrédient culinaire et rituels (Inegbenebor et al, 2009) (Ilic et al, 2010).…”

Effect of Alligator Pepper on Litter Weight of Rats Fed on High Glycemic Index Diet

“…In a previous study, it was found that oral ingestion of high doses of granulated seeds of alligator pepper (333 mg/Kg body weight) caused termination of first trimester pregnancies in Sprague-Dawley rats [19], while intraperitoneal injection of low dose of the aqueous extract of the seeds of alligator pepper on the 4th day of gestation caused attenuation of gestational weight gain in mother rats and a reduction in litter weight of their litters without adverse effects on either mother rats or their litters [3]. These rat chow used in the previous study was grower's mash, which was also used in feeding the rats in the control group A in this study.…”