AIDAN - TETRAPLEURA TETRAPTERAT
Tetrapleura tetraptera is an indigenous fruit tree in Tropical Africa found scientifically to have medicinal and nutritional properties vital for rural livelihood sustainability. Its uses have not received much attention despite the reported scientific potentials.
It is called Aidan in Yoruba, Osakrisa in Igbo, Prekese in Ghana and Kikangabalimu in Uganda. The meaning of these local names reflects the knowledge and use of the species by local communities in each country. For instance, the word “Prekese” in Twi dialect in Ghana means “soup perfume”; “Aidan” in Yoruba dialect in Nigeria means “cast no spell”; and
“Kikangabalimu” in Rwamba dialect in Uganda means “it scares ghosts”
Studies were conducted in Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda based on knowledge of the occurrence, utilization, and geographical distribution The main T. tetraptera parts reported for disease treatment were fruit, stem-bark, root-bark, leaves, and seed. While the use of T. tetraptera fruit was reported in the three countries, the use of leaves and seed was only reported in Uganda. Across the three countries, the fruits of T. tetraptera were the main parts reported for treating 95% of the 20 diseases treated by T. tetraptera. Other T. tetraptera parts
reported in medicinal applications were stem bark (50%), leaves (20%), seed (15%) and root-bark (10%).
Concerning food applications, T. tetraptera fruit was reported to be used for different food uses, including food spicing in both Ghana and Nigeria, yam stew and porridge seasoning in Nigeria, fish seasoning in Ghana and direct eating as a snack in Uganda.
Tetrapleura tetraptera is an indigenous fruit tree in Tropical Africa found scientifically to have medicinal and nutritional properties vital for rural livelihood sustainability. Its uses have not received much attention despite the reported scientific potentials.
It is called Aidan in Yoruba, Osakrisa in Igbo, Prekese in Ghana and Kikangabalimu in Uganda. The meaning of these local names reflects the knowledge and use of the species by local communities in each country. For instance, the word “Prekese” in Twi dialect in Ghana means “soup perfume”; “Aidan” in Yoruba dialect in Nigeria means “cast no spell”; and
“Kikangabalimu” in Rwamba dialect in Uganda means “it scares ghosts”
Studies were conducted in Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda based on knowledge of the occurrence, utilization, and geographical distribution The main T. tetraptera parts reported for disease treatment were fruit, stem-bark, root-bark, leaves, and seed. While the use of T. tetraptera fruit was reported in the three countries, the use of leaves and seed was only reported in Uganda. Across the three countries, the fruits of T. tetraptera were the main parts reported for treating 95% of the 20 diseases treated by T. tetraptera. Other T. tetraptera parts
reported in medicinal applications were stem bark (50%), leaves (20%), seed (15%) and root-bark (10%).
Concerning food applications, T. tetraptera fruit was reported to be used for different food uses, including food spicing in both Ghana and Nigeria, yam stew and porridge seasoning in Nigeria, fish seasoning in Ghana and direct eating as a snack in Uganda.
Cultural applications of T. tetraptera were reported in Uganda and Nigeria. They included: protection against evil spirits, thieves and witches and restoration of lost love relationships.
While the use of T. tetraptera in protection against evil spirits was reported in both Nigeria and Uganda, its use in protection from thieves, witches, and for the restoration of lost love relationships was exclusively reported in Uganda. The tree parts of T. tetraptera reported for cultural use were fruit, seeds, and stem bark. Planting T. tetraptera tree in the compound was also reported as a cultural practice in Uganda. The fruit was the commonest reported T. tetraptera part used for cultural applications in Uganda and Nigeria. The fruit constituted four out of five cultural applications of T. tetraptera reported in Uganda and two out of three applications in Nigeria.
T. tetraptera is widely valued for medicinal, food and cultural applications in rural communities of Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda where it naturally grows.
While the use of T. tetraptera in protection against evil spirits was reported in both Nigeria and Uganda, its use in protection from thieves, witches, and for the restoration of lost love relationships was exclusively reported in Uganda. The tree parts of T. tetraptera reported for cultural use were fruit, seeds, and stem bark. Planting T. tetraptera tree in the compound was also reported as a cultural practice in Uganda. The fruit was the commonest reported T. tetraptera part used for cultural applications in Uganda and Nigeria. The fruit constituted four out of five cultural applications of T. tetraptera reported in Uganda and two out of three applications in Nigeria.
T. tetraptera is widely valued for medicinal, food and cultural applications in rural communities of Ghana, Nigeria, and Uganda where it naturally grows.
HEALTH BENEFITS
1. Diabetes:
Extract of the fruits of Aidan Plant is used to treat diabetes and its complications such as Oxidative Stress and Hyperlipidemia. The leaves, roots, and bark can also be added for optimal performance.
2. Treatment of Hypertension
In folk medicine, the stem and bark extracts of Tetrapleura tetraptera can be used for preventing and treating hypertension. Researchers agree that Tetrapleura tetraptera is effective for preventing high blood pressure and for improving the oxidative position in salt model of hypertension patients.
3. Supports the Immune System
Being an excellent source of key vitamins such as potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, Aidan helps to strengthen our immune system. Iron helps to regenerate lost blood, zinc offers protection against viruses especially those that can cause respiratory tract infections while calcium and potassium help to manage, prevent and control bones and muscles disorders.
4. Anti-Aging Properties:
Those who wish to continue to look young, especially women, must make Aidan fruits their friend, and use it to spice up their foods each time they are cooking. The pod contains Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Tannins and Alkaloids which are antioxidants that protect our body from free radicals and oxidative damages responsible for aging.
5. Convulsion:
Different studies have revealed that extract from Aidan fruits possesses anticonvulsant properties which are the reason for its inhibitory effects on the central nervous system. Both the stem, leaves, and fruit are used for producing herbal concoction for managing convulsion.
6. Management of Leprosy
Studies reveal that Aidan can be used for treating leprosy, which is an infectious disease that affects mainly the skin, nerves and the mucous membranes thereby causing blemishes and lumps on the skin. Severe cases of leprosy can lead to deformities and mutilation.
7. Supports the Cardiovascular System
Aidan supports the cardiovascular system due to its constituents of essential phytochemical and as such can be used for preventing and treating heart diseases.
8. Anti-inflammatory Properties
The extract of this plant is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and this suggests its inhibitory impacts against certain human pathogens. As a result, it can be used for reducing inflammation of the body, arthritic pains, and rheumatoid pains.
9. Anti-oxidizing Properties
Aidan is an excellent source of antioxidants such as polyphenols, alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids. Antioxidants help to protect our body from oxidative damage by scavenging for free radicals thereby preventing peroxidation. It is important to note that free radicals and reactive oxygen species formed during the oxidation process contribute immensely to diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes as well as aging. Aidan fruit has a remarkable chemo diversity due to its constituents of polyphenols. It also has a strong radical reducing and scavenging abilities.
10. Dermatological Care
The fruit can be dried and blended into powdered form for producing dermatological products such as soap. The great attention drawn towards the use of this plant for manufacturing soap is due to its high antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
It is worthy to note that the Aidan plant helps to promote soap foaming as well as its hardness. To make soap with Aidan, the dried powdered herbs can be combined with shea butter, palm kernel oil or any other bases of choice. Soaps produced with these three key ingredients have superior qualities unlike those with individual base.
11. Culinary Purposes
Dried Aidan fruit is known for its distinguished aromatic and flavorful fragrance and as such used as a spice for flavoring assorted dishes such as meat pepper soup, palm kernel soup (Banga soup or ofe akwu), nsala (white soup), fish pepper soup, etc. To use this spice, you can either crush it before adding to food or break into smaller portions before adding in the food while cooking.
12. Post-partum Care
Aidan pod is traditionally used for preparing special soups for newborn mothers immediately they put to bed in other to avoid post-partum contraction. Although Aidan can be used alone for this sort of postnatal soup preparation, however, it can be used together with piper guineese, gongronema latifolium and scotch bonnet pepper for superior action. Using this spice for post-partum care is attributed to its high constituents of calcium, iron, and potassium, which are very important for new mothers. Furthermore, it helps to restore and replenish lost blood for new mothers and promotes lactation.
13. Contraceptive Properties
Saponin and ethanol extract from the stem and bark of this plant has an inhibitory effect on luteinizing hormone released by the pituitary gland. This suggests why this plant equally serves as a contraceptive.
14. Wound Healing Properties
Aidan pods contain essential chemical compounds such as flavonoids, triterpenoid glycoside (Eridani) and phenols, which have been reported effective for healing wounds.
15. Asthma
Traditionally, this plant can be used for treating asthma which is an inflammatory disease of the airways and the lungs
16. Gastrointestinal Disorders
The fruit can be used for treating gastrointestinal disorders such as stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting etc due to its constituents of phytochemicals
17. Antibacterial Ability
Researchers reveal that water extracts and the alcoholic mixture of the Aidan fruit can inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of glycosides and tannins in ethanolic and water extracts of Aidan have been proven effective for inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
18. Treatment of Schistosomiasis
Studies reveal that Aidan can be used for treating schistosomiasis. This is an infection that is also known as snail fever or bilharziasis caused by parasitic flukes of the genus Schistosoma. This infection occurs mainly in the tropical regions and eastern Asia and is mostly transmitted to humans through snails or fecal-contaminated fresh water. Common symptoms of schistosomiasis include anemia, pain, fever and breakdown of the infected organs
19. Molluscicidal Properties
Studies reveal that the aqueous extracts from the stalk, leaves, stem, bark, and roots of the Aidan plant contain molluscicidal properties. This suggests why this plant acts as a pesticide for fighting against mollusks and pests. Aidan is normally used in gardening, planting and agriculture for offering protections and control against gastropod pests especially snails and slugs that feed on/damage crops and other valuable plants in the farmland.
1. Diabetes:
Extract of the fruits of Aidan Plant is used to treat diabetes and its complications such as Oxidative Stress and Hyperlipidemia. The leaves, roots, and bark can also be added for optimal performance.
2. Treatment of Hypertension
In folk medicine, the stem and bark extracts of Tetrapleura tetraptera can be used for preventing and treating hypertension. Researchers agree that Tetrapleura tetraptera is effective for preventing high blood pressure and for improving the oxidative position in salt model of hypertension patients.
3. Supports the Immune System
Being an excellent source of key vitamins such as potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, Aidan helps to strengthen our immune system. Iron helps to regenerate lost blood, zinc offers protection against viruses especially those that can cause respiratory tract infections while calcium and potassium help to manage, prevent and control bones and muscles disorders.
4. Anti-Aging Properties:
Those who wish to continue to look young, especially women, must make Aidan fruits their friend, and use it to spice up their foods each time they are cooking. The pod contains Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Tannins and Alkaloids which are antioxidants that protect our body from free radicals and oxidative damages responsible for aging.
5. Convulsion:
Different studies have revealed that extract from Aidan fruits possesses anticonvulsant properties which are the reason for its inhibitory effects on the central nervous system. Both the stem, leaves, and fruit are used for producing herbal concoction for managing convulsion.
6. Management of Leprosy
Studies reveal that Aidan can be used for treating leprosy, which is an infectious disease that affects mainly the skin, nerves and the mucous membranes thereby causing blemishes and lumps on the skin. Severe cases of leprosy can lead to deformities and mutilation.
7. Supports the Cardiovascular System
Aidan supports the cardiovascular system due to its constituents of essential phytochemical and as such can be used for preventing and treating heart diseases.
8. Anti-inflammatory Properties
The extract of this plant is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and this suggests its inhibitory impacts against certain human pathogens. As a result, it can be used for reducing inflammation of the body, arthritic pains, and rheumatoid pains.
9. Anti-oxidizing Properties
Aidan is an excellent source of antioxidants such as polyphenols, alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids. Antioxidants help to protect our body from oxidative damage by scavenging for free radicals thereby preventing peroxidation. It is important to note that free radicals and reactive oxygen species formed during the oxidation process contribute immensely to diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes as well as aging. Aidan fruit has a remarkable chemo diversity due to its constituents of polyphenols. It also has a strong radical reducing and scavenging abilities.
10. Dermatological Care
The fruit can be dried and blended into powdered form for producing dermatological products such as soap. The great attention drawn towards the use of this plant for manufacturing soap is due to its high antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
It is worthy to note that the Aidan plant helps to promote soap foaming as well as its hardness. To make soap with Aidan, the dried powdered herbs can be combined with shea butter, palm kernel oil or any other bases of choice. Soaps produced with these three key ingredients have superior qualities unlike those with individual base.
11. Culinary Purposes
Dried Aidan fruit is known for its distinguished aromatic and flavorful fragrance and as such used as a spice for flavoring assorted dishes such as meat pepper soup, palm kernel soup (Banga soup or ofe akwu), nsala (white soup), fish pepper soup, etc. To use this spice, you can either crush it before adding to food or break into smaller portions before adding in the food while cooking.
12. Post-partum Care
Aidan pod is traditionally used for preparing special soups for newborn mothers immediately they put to bed in other to avoid post-partum contraction. Although Aidan can be used alone for this sort of postnatal soup preparation, however, it can be used together with piper guineese, gongronema latifolium and scotch bonnet pepper for superior action. Using this spice for post-partum care is attributed to its high constituents of calcium, iron, and potassium, which are very important for new mothers. Furthermore, it helps to restore and replenish lost blood for new mothers and promotes lactation.
13. Contraceptive Properties
Saponin and ethanol extract from the stem and bark of this plant has an inhibitory effect on luteinizing hormone released by the pituitary gland. This suggests why this plant equally serves as a contraceptive.
14. Wound Healing Properties
Aidan pods contain essential chemical compounds such as flavonoids, triterpenoid glycoside (Eridani) and phenols, which have been reported effective for healing wounds.
15. Asthma
Traditionally, this plant can be used for treating asthma which is an inflammatory disease of the airways and the lungs
16. Gastrointestinal Disorders
The fruit can be used for treating gastrointestinal disorders such as stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting etc due to its constituents of phytochemicals
17. Antibacterial Ability
Researchers reveal that water extracts and the alcoholic mixture of the Aidan fruit can inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The presence of glycosides and tannins in ethanolic and water extracts of Aidan have been proven effective for inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
18. Treatment of Schistosomiasis
Studies reveal that Aidan can be used for treating schistosomiasis. This is an infection that is also known as snail fever or bilharziasis caused by parasitic flukes of the genus Schistosoma. This infection occurs mainly in the tropical regions and eastern Asia and is mostly transmitted to humans through snails or fecal-contaminated fresh water. Common symptoms of schistosomiasis include anemia, pain, fever and breakdown of the infected organs
19. Molluscicidal Properties
Studies reveal that the aqueous extracts from the stalk, leaves, stem, bark, and roots of the Aidan plant contain molluscicidal properties. This suggests why this plant acts as a pesticide for fighting against mollusks and pests. Aidan is normally used in gardening, planting and agriculture for offering protections and control against gastropod pests especially snails and slugs that feed on/damage crops and other valuable plants in the farmland.
How to Use Aidan
Aidan pods can be crushed, ground, grated or broken into tiny pieces before adding to food or using for medicinal purposes. Alternatively, the pod can be broken into two or added whole to food during preparation but in this case, remember to scoop it out from the food before serving. It is important to add this spice a lot earlier in the food while cooking so that it can infuse properly for the more flavourful and aromatic smell. For herbal medicines, the stem, bark, root, leaves, and pods of Aidan can be infused, boiled, soaked, squeezed, extracted, crushed or transformed into concoctions.
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