Research and Promoters of African Medicinal Plants
Long Pepper (Piper longum)- Health Benefits, Properties and Methods to Use it as Herbal Medicines Pippali, also known as Piper longum or long pepper, is a significant herb in Ayurveda and traditional medicine. Pippali contains several active compounds, including piperine, piplartine, and essential oils, which contribute to its medicinal properties Health Benefits of Piper longum Treats…
Black pepper Spice (Piper nigrum) Herbal Uses and Properties Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is more than just a kitchen spice. It offers several health benefits due to its potent compounds. It is a flowering vine native to the Malabar Coast of India. It thrives in warm, humid, and hot environments around the world. It belongs…
Jeera Plant (Cuminum Cyminum) Health Benefits and Herbal Uses The botanical name for jeera is Cuminum cyminum. It’s a flowering plant in the Apiaceae family, and its seeds are commonly used in various cuisines. The Jeera plant is cultivated in different parts of the world including Africa. It is a spice with many herbal benefits that help maintain…
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Benefits and Uses Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is a spice that is commonly used in baked goods, holiday treats, ethnic cuisine, and beverages. It has been traditionally used in various forms of herbal medicine for its medicinal properties Health Benefits of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is known for its various health…
Coriander Spice (Coriandrum sativum) Herbal Benefits and Uses of the Leaves, Seeds and Oil Coriander, scientifically known as Coriandrum sativum, is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. It’s a versatile plant where all parts are edible, but it’s the fresh leaves and dried seeds that are most commonly used in cooking. In addition to its culinary…
Dill (Anethum graveolens) Health Benefits and Herbal Uses Dill, scientifically known as Anethum graveolens, is an annual herb in the celery family Apiaceae. It’s native to North Africa, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula. Dill has a long history and was even found in the tomb of Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep II, dating back to around 1400 BC. It’s…
Ethiopian Pepper (Xylopia aethiopica) Xylopia aethiopica, also known as Ethiopian Pepper, black pepper, or Grains of Selim among many other common names, is a species of flowering plant in the Annonaceae family. It is native to tropical Africa and is found in moist, lowland forests. This evergreen, aromatic tree can reach up to 5 meters in height. Its leaves are oblong-elliptic, and…
Facts About the Star Anise (Illicium verum) Star anise, scientifically known as Illicium verum, is a spice with a flavour reminiscent of licorice. It is obtained from the star-shaped pods of the fruit of the Chinese evergreen tree I. verum. Star anise is a spice from the Illicium verum ( I. verum) evergreen tree native to…
Facts About The Bay Plant (Laurus Nobilis) The leaf of the sweet bay tree ( Laurus nobilis ), an evergreen of the family Lauraceae, is a native of the Mediterranean and is widely cultivated in Africa. Its leaves, commonly known as bay leaves are used for seasoning food and herbal medicines in traditional medicine practices because…
Shea butter This is fat that’s extracted from the nuts of the shea tree. It’s solid at warm temperatures and has an off-white or ivory colour. Shea trees are native to West Africa. Shea butter has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for many years. Its high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids — combined…
Garlic is a plant in the onion family that’s grown for its distinctive taste and health benefits. It contains sulfur compounds, which are believed to bring some of the health benefits. The plant is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese. It also contains trace amounts of various other nutrients….
Ginger Ginger has a long history of use in various forms of traditional and alternative medicine. It’s been used to aid digestion, reduce nausea, and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few of its purposes. The unique fragrance and flavour of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of…
Health benefits of Prekese (Tetrapleura tetraptera) This is a great plant that has been used in Africa over a long period, and it is often used as an ingredient in our daily meal, brewed to be taken as tea and lots of other uses. Prekese is a fruit that comes from a tree native to…
Green Chilli Green chillies are one of the regular spices we use in our daily meals. Usually, it has a mild concentration of pepper action. It is called green chilli because this pepper is harvested before it changes its colour pigments to red. They are extremely low in calories and are almost fat-free which makes…
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Thyme belongs to the mint family and it it known for its fabulous spicy set to give a wonderful taste. ancient Egyptians use this plant for their embalming activities and Greek for incense. Besides using this plant as spice for food, here are some of its health importance. Health Benefits of Thyme…
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a green aromatic shrub, that is widely used in our daily food for seasoning. Besides its use for seasoning, it has great medicinal value. some of which this article will throw some light on. Research is still going on about the health benefits of the Rosemary plant. But…
Onion (Allium Cepal) Heath Benefits and Healing Properties Onion is one of the world’s most commonly used spices, the onion bulb is formed by the thickening of the stalk underground, it is a good food with high healing power. 3500 years ago it was used by the Israelites to handle respiratory disorders, onions have carbohydrates…
Turmeric Turmeric is a spice that has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and cooking. It contains a compound called curcumin, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties Health Benefits of Turmeric Reduces inflammation: Curcumin has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, which can help alleviate symptoms…
