“Many people praise and acknowledge the healing power of plants, but few people actually take action to prevent their extension by planting and conserving them for future generations.” (Ernest Rukangira )
More Than 50 Herbal Medicines Hold Possibility for
Cancer Cure
Researches explore the probability of some Chinese herbal
medicines to be effective ingredients
in making anticancer drugs. (Photo : Getty Images)
Medical experts and nutritionists have long acknowledged that fruits and
vegetables contain anticancer properties.
Mother Nature seemingly holds another key for cancer prevention and treatment.
Chinese scientists learned that 57 kinds of medicinal plants commonly used
in creating traditional Chinese medicine have anticancer components, reported
Xinhua.
Dai Shaoxing from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, however,
said that additional research should be conducted to determine their full
potential to cure cancer.
The fruit of the medicinal plant Siraitia grosvenorii, for one,
contains mogrosides, whose extract--the natural compound mogroside V--was
tested for its antitumor effect and its probable capability to treat pancreatic
cancer, according to CAS website.
The authors who conducted the tests consolidated their works and subsequent
findings in a paper titled, “Functional Characterization of Cucurbitadienol
Synthase and Triterpene Glycosyltransferase Involved in Biosynthesis of
Mogrosides from Siraitia grosvenorii,” published by peer-reviewed online
journal Oncogenesis, Plant & Cell Physiology (the official journal of the
Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists) and the American Journal of Cancer
Research.
In China, Siraitia grosvenorii, commonly called luo han guo,
typically grows in Lingui District and Yongfu County in the city of Guilin in
Guangxi Province. Other people call it monk fruit, which also grows in
Thailand.
U.K.-based National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds another study
that will explore the possibilities of Chinese herbal medicines to cure
recurrent urinary tract infections
(RUTIs), according to the University of Southampton as posted on its website.
The researchers from the said public university in England will undertake
the task of finding out if Chinese herbal medicines can be used to treat RUTIs
and if they can also replace certain antibiotics
to treat sore throats and acute coughs.
“Chinese herbal medicine has a recorded history of treating symptoms of UTIs for over 2000 years,” said Dr. Andrew
Flower, NIHR Research Fellow in the Complementary and Integrated Medicine
Research Unit at the university.
According to the university, “urinary tract infections are the most common bacterial infection presented by
women” in the U.K. and likewise common among women in other countries.
U.K.-based National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds another study
that will explore the possibilities of Chinese herbal medicines to cure
recurrent urinary tract infections
(RUTIs), according to the University of Southampton as posted on its website.
The researchers from the said public university in England will undertake
the task of finding out if Chinese herbal medicines can be used to treat RUTIs
and if they can also replace certain antibiotics
to treat sore throats and acute coughs.
“Chinese herbal medicine has a recorded history of treating symptoms of UTIs for over 2000 years,” said Dr. Andrew
Flower, NIHR Research Fellow in the Complementary and Integrated Medicine
Research Unit at the university.
According to the university, “urinary tract infections are the most common bacterial infection presented by
women” in the U.K. and likewise common among women in other countries.
Protective Effect ofAframomum meleguetaphenolics
Against CCl4-Induced Rat Hepatocytes Damage; Role
of Apoptosis and Pro-inflammatory Cytokines inhibition
Abstract
Aframomum meleguetais a commonly used African spice. Through a
hepatoprotective bioassay-guided isolation, the chloroform fraction ofA.meleguetaseeds yielded one new diarylheptanoid
named 3-(S)-acetyl-1-(4′-hydroxy-3′, 5′-di methoxyphenyl)-7-(3″,4″,
5″-trihydroxyphenyl)heptane (1), and two new hydroxyphenylalkanones,
[8]-dehydrogingerdione (2) and [6]-dehydroparadol (3), in addition to six known
compounds (4–9). The hepatoprotective effect ofA.meleguetamethanol extract,
sub-fractions and isolated compounds was investigated using carbon
tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in a rat hepatocytes model. The methanol,
chloroform extracts and compounds 1, 5, 8 and 9 ofA. meleguetasignificantly inhibited the elevated
serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances
(TBARS), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), interleukin-1beta (Il-1β), caspase3 and
9 and enhanced the reduced liver glutathione (GSH) level caused by CCl4intoxication.
These results indicate thatA.meleguetaextracts,
and isolated compounds play a protective role in CCl4induced
acute liver injury which might be due to elevated antioxidative defense
potentials, suppressed inflammatory responses and apoptosis of liver tissue.
Cytotoxicity of four Aframomum species
(A. arundinaceum, A. alboviolaceum, A. kayserianum and A.
polyanthum) towards multi-factorial drug resistant cancer cell lines
Background
The search for natural products as potential cytotoxic agents
has yielded promising candidates. However multidrug resistance (MDR) is still a
major hurdle for patients receiving chemotherapy. In the present study, we
evaluated the cytotoxicity of the methanol extracts of four dietaryAframomumplant
species (A. arundinaceum, A. alboviolaceum, A. kayserianumandA. polyanthum)
against nine sensitive and MDR cancer cell lines. We have also identified the
bioactive constituents ofA. arundinaceum.
Methods
The cytotoxicity of the methanol extracts of the above plants
was determined using a resazurin reduction assay. Chromatographic techniques
were used to isolate the constituents ofA. arundinaceum.
Results
A preliminary experiment on leukemia CCRF-CEM cells at
40 μg/mL showed that the extracts fromA. kayserianumandA. alboviolaceumas well
as the isolated compounds namely compounds aframodial (1),
8(17),12-labdadien-15,16-dial (2), galanolactone (3),
1-p-menthene-3,6-diol
(6)
and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene (7) were less active,
inducing more than 50% growth of this cell line contrary toA. polyanthumandA. arundinaceumextracts,
galanals A (4) and B (5),
naringenin (8) and kaempferol-3,7,4’-trimethylether
(9).
The IC50values
below or around 30 μg/mL were recorded withA. arundinaceumextract
against eight of the nine tested cancer cell lines. This extract as well as
compound8displayed
IC50values
below 40 μg/mL towards the nine tested cancer cell lines whilstA. polyanthumextract,
compounds4, 5and9showed
selective activities. Collateral sensitivity (hypersensitivity) was observed
withA.
arundinaceumextract
towards leukemia CEM/ADR5000 cells and glioblastoma U87MG.ΔEGFRcompared
to their respective sensitive counterparts CEM/CEM and U87MG.
SynonymAframomum grana-paradisi, Alpinia grana-paradisi, Amomum melegueta.Common nameAlligator pepper, atar, graines de paradis, grains of paradise, grana paradise, grani de Meleguetta, grani de paradiso, guinea grains, malagettapfeffer, malaguette, nengrekondre pepre, paradies kõrner, paradijs korrels, poivre de Guinée. FamilyZingerberaceae (Ginger family).
OverviewAlligator pepper is an herbaceous tropical perennial growing up to 5' tall; originally from West Africa, brought over to Surinam by the slaves. It grows now abundantly in Suriname.
This plant has lanceolate leaves up to 9" long. The trumpet-shaped, purple flowers develop into 5 - 7 cm long grayish - brown, wrinkled dried pods (capsules) containing the numerous very small seeds. These are almost oval in shape, hard, shiny, and have a reddish-brown color. The important parts of this plant are the seeds and rhizomes; the small (3-4 mm =1/8") reddish - brown seeds have a pungent aroma with a pepper - like heat. This much sought after spice is tempered with, among others, flavors reminiscing of hazelnut, butter and citrus. The essential oil from grains of paradise consists of two sesquiterpenes, humelene and caryophyllene and the oxides of these. It has an exotic tropical scent and flavor and is used for the production of beer, wine and spirits, and the flavoring of vinegar. It is used in the Surinam cuisine to flavor dishes such as vegetables (okra and tomatoes recipes), soups (lentil and chicken) and fish recipes. The rhizome of the plant is used medicinally and is also is an important part from the diet of Western lowland gorillas in Africa. Medicinal applicationsUsed as a purgative, galactogogue (to increase production of breast milk), anthelmintic- and hemostatic agent (purifies the blood). It is also effective against schistosomiasis (bilharzia). Further against intestinal infections, infestations; to calm indigestion and heartburn. The seeds of Aframomum melegueta possess potent anti-inflammatory activity with a favorable gastric tolerability profile.
Aframomum may successfully be used to treat diseases where inflammation is in play like cardiovascular conditions, arthritis, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease. There are some reports of the use of this pant as an aphrodisiac and testosterone booster. It may also have anti estrogenic properties. Aframomum may have a superior ability to counteract skin irritation. It is used in West Africa for alleviating stomachache and diarrhea as well hypertension. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardio glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, sterols, triterpenes, and oils, while the methanol fraction contains alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, sterols, and resins. The pungent, peppery taste of the seeds is caused by aromatic ketones such as (6)-paradol; the essential oils occur only in traces.
HardinessUSDA zone 9 - 11. PropagationSeeds and rhizomes. CultureFull sun / partial shade; well drained soil. It needs high humidity. Plant in frost free spots. http://www.tropilab.com/nengrekondrepepre.html
“I put a few between my teeth and crunched. They cracked like coriander releasing a billowing aroma, and then a slowly intensifying heat, like pepper at the back of my mouth. The taste changes in a second. The heat lingered. But the spice flavor was pleasantly tempered, ripe with flavors reminiscent of jasmine, hazelnut, butter and citrus, and with the kind of oiliness you get from nuts. They were entirely different from black peppercorns and in my mind, incomparably better.”
Amanda Hesser, New York times, 2000
Can you make a Guess what all those Paean is for?
It is for……………………..Aframomum melegueta (Grains of paradise). Let’s know a little about Aframomum melegueta (A. melegueta)
A.melegueta is a known name when listing the medicinal, aromatic tropical plants that exist. This is not only because of its various uses but also the historical value attached to it.
The first known reference to the plant dates from 1214 A.D., there were remarks that physicians in places as far apart as the Frankish Court at Nicosia, Rome, Lyons and Wales included this plant in medical prescriptions. Queen Elizabeth I of England was also noted to flavour her Beer with it(Harten, 1970). Around the 14th-15th Century, Pliny mentioned it to be African pepper and it was later referred to as Grains of Paradise when it became a popular substitute for Black pepper in Europe.
king Afonso_V of Portugal (public domain image)
In 1469, it was given another name; Malagueta (a Portuguese word which literally means ‘chilli pepper’) and gained more popularity as it was included in the trade by a Portuguese merchant and explorer from Lisbon; Fernao Gomes, in the Gulf of Guinea following the permission of King Afonso V of Portugal. Around these centuries, Menagier de Paris(French medieval book on a woman’s proper behaviour in marriage and running a household since 1393) recommended it for improving wine that smells stale, also, the present region now known as Liberia was named ‘Grains coast’ (adapted fromGrains of paradise) because its seeds were major export item in the region at that period.
The first scientific puplication on this plant was done by Karl Moritz Schumann on the 4th October, 1904. A.melegueta is also commonly called Guinea grains and erroneously Alligator pepper!
Wait a minute……Is this Alligator pepper or A. melegueta???
Characteristics of A.melegueta A.melegueta is a perennial deciduous herb native to the tropics and grows at the swampy habitats of the West Africa coast. It belongs to the Ginger family (Zingiberaceae). It possesses tufted leafy stem that can be up to 1.5m high. The leaves are simple, alternate and lanceolate. The matured leaves can grow as long as 40cm in length and 12cm-15cm wide. It produces purple coloured flowers which develops into pods that can be as long as 8cm and about 3cm wide. This pod contains numerous reddish-brown seeds (can be as many as 300 seeds in one pod). The sharp and peppery taste of the seeds is caused by the aromatic ketones; 6-paradol, 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol present in it (Sugita et al, 2013). The fruits are fleshy, indehiscent and produce spikes. It cannot survive temperatures below 1°C.
Distribution of A. melegueta It is native to the West African region. The distribution map below shows that it can be found in Nigeria, Uganda, Angola,Benin, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire(Ivory Coast), Liberia,, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cameroon,Congo, Gabon, Gulf of Guinea Is., Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Guinea-Bissau but widely cultivated in various parts of other tropical Africa, South America and several other places.
increasing whole-body energy expenditure by its oral ingestion
protective capacity on crops such as Zea mays (Maize) and more medicinal uses are being discovered on daily basis
A.melegueta and Culinary uses The heat is what has kept it alive in people’s minds. It can be mixed with coriander, cinnamon, dried chilies and cloves as a condiment for grilled lamb, chicken, fish, pumpkin and okra, or added to soups, stews and pickling mixtures. They can also be found in ‘raz al hanout’, the spice mixture of Morocco (Hesser, 2000).
”Yummy’‘, nothing tastes better than its flavour around your meals……you might want to give it a try today!!!
A.melegueta and Culture
When a baby is born in Africa, for instance, in the Yoruba culture(Nigeria), a small amount is given to them to taste, this is done minutes after they are born. It is said to be a welcoming process for the baby. It is also used as a traditional wedding gift in the same Yoruba culture. In addition to this, A.melegueta together with kola nut is served to guests in the Eastern part of Nigeria. When chewed together, the hot spicy taste enhances or reduces the bitter taste from the kola nut. A.melegueta is used for divination and ordeal to determine who is guilty of an offence among the Efik people (primarily Eastern part of Nigeria). It is also used for religious (voodoo) rites at the Caribbean Islands. One of the myths as regards this seed is that it prevents accident when swallowed and also reduce the state of drunkenness ( you might give this myth a try when you feel tipsyBUT NOT with Accident!).
Here, is the BIG BOOM………………. A.melegueta is NOT ALLIGATOR PEPPER
The seed of Alligator pepper is from A. danielli, A. citratum or A. exscapum. The spice grows wild in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea and Liberia. The English name –Alligator pepper becomes very obvious when the pod is open and the seeds are shown, the seeds have a papery skin enclosing them and the bumps of the seeds within this skin looks like that of an alligator’s back. The alligator pepper is sold as an entire pod which contains the seed unlike the grains of paradise which is sold as only seeds. It is highly aromatic than that of A.melegueta (Grains of paradise) seeds.
It is worthy to note that this same plant generally known as Alligator pepper by a Lay-man in many countries (i.e Nigeria) is also been refered to asA.melegueta ( Grains of Paradise) by the botanical researchers in that region.
The Ultimate search for what is correct!
After thorough investigation using different search engines available, it was discovered that larger number of Researchers(all around the globe) that have worked on A. meleguetaused Alligator pepper as one of its common names while very few others tried to differentiate them.
The question is: How do we know for sure which seeds of genus Aframomum was used by these Researchers; A. melegueta or Alligator pepper(from A. danielli, A. citratumor A. exscapum)? This crucial question points to the fact that there is need for comprehensive research that will succintly clarify the differences among these species of Aframomum as it appears that most of the focus as been on the uses of these plants.
……..while the hunt for the right seed-identity of what Queen Elizabeth I of England used to flavour her Beer continues……please know that the English common names ofA.meleguetaare Grains of paradise, Guinea grains BUT not Alligator pepper!!!
You might also want to read my previous post on these species.
References
All images, video and Map were created by the Blogger.
Betumiblog (2013). Grains of Paradise or Alligator Pepper? URL: http://betumiblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/grains-of-paradise-or-alligator-pepper.html. [15 October 2013]
Hesser A. (2013). What Peppercorns Only Dream of Being. URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/03/dining/what-peppercorns-only-dream-of-being.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm [23 October 2013]
IPNI (2005). Plant name details. URL: http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=871877-1. [1 November 2013]
Odugbemi T. (2008).A textbook of Medicinal plants in Nigeria. Lagos: Tolu Odugbemi.
Sugita J, Yoneshiro T, Hatano T, Aita S, Ikemoto T, Uchiwa H, Iwanaga T, Kameya T, Kawai Y and Saito M.( 2013). Grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract activates brown adipose tissue and increases whole-body energy expenditure in men. British Journal of Nutrition. 110(4): 733-738
