PEPPERFRUITS BENEFITS

*7 HEALTH BENEFIT*
*OF PEPPERFRUITS (MMIMI)*

7 good reasons to consume pepperfruit now that it is in season.
 By Dr Gilbert Ezengige.

The season of pepperfruit is here again. This is the time to bolster your health with nutrients in this special power-packed fruit. Generally known as *Mmimi* among the Igbos,
Ata Igbere by the Yorubas and Ako by the Edo people of Nigeria, pepperfruit which is scientifically called *_Denettia tripetala_* and which belongs to the family *Annonaceae* is a medicinal plant with great potentials.
The flesh of the fruit and the seeds are highly aromatic and has a spicy taste hence the common name, pepperfruit. The seeds however are more pungent. The fruit is green in colour but starts to turn red as it ripens.
A review of the uses and medicinal properties of Dennettia tripetala (Pepperfruit - Mmimi in Igbo) documented by Sylvia Oghogho Iseghohi of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Benin, Nigeria is quite revealing.
Sylvia’s findings which largely are corroborated by other notable researchers mostly in Nigeria and West Africa, are summarized and captured below for education concern of the ever increasing healthbunnlesplus blog fans.

1. *Pepperfruit fights germs.*
“Researchers at Delta state University, Abraka, have found that the essential oil and phenolic acid extract of pepperfruit can inhibit the growth of food-borne microorganisms such as Staphyloccocus aureus, Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli, and a host of others.”

2. *Pepperfruit reduces body aches and pain, it reduces inflammation too.*
“The essential oil of the fruits has been found to possess analgesic effects as great as that induced by the powerful opioid morphine as well as aspirin and indomethacin. This oil also relieved inflammation in rodents with edema to levels comparable with that of dexamethasone.”

3. *Pepperfruit relaxes the nervous system.* It also has anticonvulsant effects and relieves anxiety.

4. *Pepperfruit lowers blood sugar level*
Research shows that pepperfruit recruits “glucose uptake proteins from the interior of the cell to the plasma membrane.” *Diabetic patients will benefit from regular intake of this fruit.*

5. *Peppertfruit has an antioxidant effect*
Analysis shows that pepperfruit is rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Sylvia stated that, “a group of researchers at the Federal University of Technology, Akure evaluated the changes in antioxidant content and potentials of fresh fruits with ripening. Using the aqueous extract, they found that the phenol content increased with ripening, while the ascorbic acid and flavonoid content did not change. Intriguingly, their results showed that the aqueous extract of unripe fruit possesses greater antioxidant ability compared to ripe fruit.” Oh no… and I prefer the ripe fruits anytime any day. However, following this finding, I will switch to consuming more of the green fruit.

6. *Pepperfruit could benefit glaucoma patients,* ingesting it lowers intraocular pressure in healthy persons.

7. *Pepperfruit inhibits growth of prostate cancer cell.*
“A recent report from the University of Illinois at Chicago showed that pepperfruit extract inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells.”

So much healing properties of this fruit have been researched and documented, but let’s get started with these 7 outstanding benefits.

**Those with active ulcer should not take it on empty stomach.*