Aframomum melegueta K. Schum. (Grains of Paradise) and Its Therapeutic Applications

Imuetiyan Asemota; Ian Cubbin; Lutfun Nahar; Satyajit D. Sarker

doi:10.53941/jmnp.2026.100005

Abstract

Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta K. Schum), also known as Alligator pepper or Guinea pepper, is a tropical plant from the genus Aframomum K. Schum of the ginger family Zingiberaceae. This plant is native to West Africa and is widely distributed across the tropical coastal regions of West and Central African countries. In African traditional medicine, Grains of Paradise have extensive applications, and they are still used. Several phytochemical studies on A. melegueta revealed the presence of alkaloids, diarylheptanoids, flavonoids, lignans, phenolics and polyphenolics, saponins, stilbenoids, terpenes, vanilloid compounds, as well as vitamins and minerals. The crude extracts, fractions, and purified compounds from A. melegueta possess biological activities, e.g., antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, hypotensive, and insecticidal properties, and some of these activities have been shown to have therapeutic relevance. This mini-review appraises the literature, recently published on the therapeutic relevance of A. melegueta, and incorporates its geographical distribution, taxonomy, cultivation methods, historical and cultural significance, and phytochemical composition.

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