Why African nutmeg treats diarrhoea, prevents sickle cell crisis

When next you develop diarrhoea, that age
long cooking spice may be the way out. The
use of African nutmeg for the treatment of
diarrhoea has been widely acclaimed in
many African communities.
Researchers studying its efficacy in the
treatment of diarrhoea have proposed that
it is one herb that should be industrially
processed and sold as an anti-diarrhoea
drug; given that diarrhea is a major
problem in many developing countries due
to a variety of factors ranging from
consumption of contaminated food/water
to reactions or intolerance to certain foods.
African nutmeg (Monodora tenuifolia), a
shrub which usually grows into a medium-
size forest tree, is very widely distributed in
Nigeria, where it is used as an ornamental
plant for food and as medicine.
The seeds of the African nutmeg also
known as Calabash Nutmeg once dried, are
grated and used as a substitute for nutmeg,
especially in West Africa, the shrub’s region
of origin where it is also sold extensively as
a less expensive alternative to nutmeg.
Its shelled seed is also sold as a spice. This is
more pungent than the whole fruit and
tends to be used more with meat dishes,
such as the recipe for goat stew (Isi Ewu)
though it can also be grated and substituted
for nutmeg in sweet dishes.
In traditional medicine practice, it is widely
used to relieve toothache, dysentery,
dermatitis, headache and as worm expeller.
The seeds are used as ingredient in herbal
medicines in Southern Nigeria. In food, they
are used as spice.
When ground to powder, the kernel is used
to prepare pepper soup as a stimulant to
relieve constipation and control passive
uterine hemorrhage in women immediately
after child birth. Other uses include the
treatment of body aches, chest pains and
rashes due to river blindness and leprosy.
An inventory of plants used in the
treatment of various skin diseases in nine
rural communities in Ovia North East, Edo
state by Dr. R.K.A. Egharevba from the
Department of Crop Science, University of
Benin indicated in the 2008 edition of
Research Journal of Agriculture and
Biological Sciences, that the ground seeds of
African nutmeg are used to treat worms.
Several studies have documented the
medicinal uses of this plant also referred to
as “Ehuru ofia or Ogbono” (Igbo), “Gujiya
dan miya”(Hausa) or “Abo làkòòs¹ or
ariwo”(Yoruba). One of such is studies was
that by Ezenwali M.O; Njoku O. U and Okoli,
C.O from the University of Nigeria, entitled
“Studies on the anti-diarrheal properties of
seed extract of Monodora tenuifolia”. This
was documented in the 2010 International
Journal of Applied Research in Natural
Products.
The researchers, in validating the use of
African nutmeg as anti-diarrheal remedy in
traditional medicine, milled some dried
African nutmeg seeds and then extracted its
constituents with methanol. The test was
divided into two stages. In stage one, the
toxicity of the methanol extract of African
nutmeg in mice was verified. This was
followed up with another on the effects of
methanol extract of African nutmeg on
diarrhoea which was evaluated in rats.
One hour after intraperitoneal
administration of treatments, the animals
received castor oil orally and were
individually placed in a cage, the bottom of
which was covered with a white sheet of
paper for observation of the number and
consistency of fecal droppings.
The number of both wet and dry droppings
was counted every 30 minutes for four
hours and the white paper changed after
each evaluation. The frequency of passage
of stools in these experimental rats was
then compared with that of the control.
They found out that the methanol extract of
African nutmeg significantly reduced the
number of fecal droppings at the doses
tested and reported that the African nutmeg
reduced water and electrolytes secretion
into the small intestine, which substantiates
its use in the treatment of diarrhea in
traditional medicine.
They declared that pre-treatment with the
extract suppressed the propulsive
movement or transit of charcoal meal
through the gastrointestinal tract which
clearly indicates that the seed extract may
be capable of reducing the frequency of
stooling in diarrheal conditions. Delay in
gastric motility causes further absorption of
water from feces and may additionally
contribute to reducing its watery texture.
Although the mechanisms by which the
extract of African nutmeg reduced gastric
contents and watery texture of diarrheal
stools as well as gastrointestinal motility is
still not clear, they suggested the possibility
of formulating the powdered seed of this
plant or its alcohol extract to a herbal anti-
diarrhea remedy.
They wrote, “from this study and the age
long use as condiment, toxicity may not
preclude use as a medicament.”
From results of the toxicity test on the
extract in mice, they suggested that the
seeds may be generally regarded as safe,
with a remote risk of acute intoxication.
According to them, the high degree of
safety is also consistent with its popular use
as a local spice in food.
Meanwhile, a new study entitled, “In vitro
antisickling effects of Xylopia aethiopica
and Monodora myristica” has just added
these spices to the list of food items that
can help to alleviate problems associated
with sickle cell disease.
The study was published in the June edition
of the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research.
It was carried out by Dr. A. A Uwakwe from
the Department of Biochemistry, University
of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Dr. R.N.
Nwaoguikpe from the Department of
Biochemistry, Federal University of
Technology Owerri, Nigeria.
Testing the extracts of Xylopia aethiopica
(guinea pepper) and nutmeg on blood
samples that were collected from patients
confirmed to have sickle cell disease, the
researchers found that irrespective of
whether they used the water, chloroform,
methanol or butanol extract of these spices,
they were able to prevent red blood cells
becoming sickle in shape to varying extents
– from 70 per cent to 90 per cent in 15
minutes.
Although the crude aqueous extracts of the
spices had the highest antisickling
effectiveness in comparison with its crude
form, the experts suggested that these
spices, when used in combination with
other nutritious foods like fruits and
vegetables, might be a promising option for
the effective management of sickle cell
disease and its many complications.