PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Aframomum melegueta (AM) is an herbaceous plant consumed as an edible spice and traditionally used to treat common ailments in West Africa, such as body pains, diarrhoea, sore throat, catarrh, congestion and rheumatism. Moreover, AM has been used to treat infectious diseases such as urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Proteus mirabilis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp, and Shigella spp. Based on current literature, different parts of the plant possess specific phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and cardiac glycosides that have healing potential and medicinal purposes. These phytochemicals exhibit anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-allergic, anti-clotting, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective effects. They also act as antioxidants to counteract free radicals, and immune enhancers as well as hormone modulators. However, research on medicinal properties of AM is still very limited. Therefore, more comprehensive studies need to be performed to elucidate the medicinal purposes of AM. This review summarises findings from previous studies on the pharmacological activities of AM.