Grains of Paradise

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Grains of Paradise
• Guinea Grains
• Guinea Pepper
• Melegueta Pepper
• Guinea-grains
• Guinea-pepper
• alligator-pepper
• grains-of-paradise
• melegueta-pepper

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Alpinia grana-paradisi
• Amomum melegueta var. violacea
• Cardamomum grana-paradisi
• Zerumbet autranii
• Aframomum meleguetella
• Aframomum grana-paradisi
• Amomum grana-paradisi

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Zingiberales, it is classified under the family Zingiberaceae and is identified by the genus Aframomum. Specifically, its scientific name is Aframomum melegueta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Aframomum melegueita, is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its presence can be documented in the nation of Benin. It also grows within the borders of Gambia and Ghana. Furthermore, the species is found across the landscapes of Guinea. Finally, its geographical range extends into the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Aframomum melegueta is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Morphologically, it functions as a geophyte, relying on underground storage organs to survive unfavorable conditions and facilitate regrowth. Furthermore, its biological classification within the life form spectrum identifies it as a cryptophyte, meaning its regenerative buds are protected beneath the soil surface, ensuring its long-term survival and ability to re-emerge within its natural habitat.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aframomum melegueta is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It functions as a self-supporting, terrestrial plant that grows independently, without any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant typically exhibits a non-woody structure and is classified as a terrestrial organism rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. In terms of stature, it maintains a relatively modest height, with a maximum recorded height of approximately 0.91 meters and a mean plant height of around 2 meters depending on environmental conditions.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.914411119 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aframomum melegueta is characterized by its metabolic processes as a perennial herbaceous plant, primarily focused on the efficient synthesis of volatile essential oils within its rhizomes. The plant's metabolic pathways prioritize the production of aromatic compounds, including cineole, borneol, and various terpene derivatives, which serve as secondary metabolites for defense and chemical signaling. Regarding its nutrient acquisition and soil interaction, the plant does not exhibit the physiological capacity for symbiotic nitrogen fixation; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms and must rely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. Its physiological development is closely tied to high humidity and shaded environments, where its photosynthetic efficiency is optimized for understory light conditions, driving the carbon assimilation necessary to support its complex chemical profile and rhizomatous growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aframomum melegueta has 5 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, fruit, leaf, rhizome, stem.

Seed

1. Andrologia
2. Toxicology reports
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Pharmaceutical biology

Leaf

1. Toxicology reports

Rhizome

1. Toxicology reports

Stem

1. Toxicology reports

Chemicals

Aframomum melegueta has 48 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 6-Paradol, Tannins, (-)-Arctigenin, (E)-14-hydroxy-15-norlabda-8(17),12-dien-16-al, 5-Hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone.

6-Paradol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(-)-Arctigenin

1. Natural product communications

(E)-14-hydroxy-15-norlabda-8(17),12-dien-16-al

1. Natural product communications

5-Hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone

1. Natural product communications

6-Gingerol

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

6-Shogaol

1. Dr. Duke

7-Gingerol

1. Dr. Duke

7-paradol

1. Dr. Duke

8-Gingerol

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Aframomum melegueta has 173 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Nutrients
4. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Aframomum melegueta has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include COVID-19, Osteoporosis, TYPE 2 DIABETES, infectious diseases, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations