How pepper fruit reduces glaucoma, diseases risk

Nigeria researchers have shown that
eating pepper fruits could decrease the
risk of blindness caused by glaucoma.
THE season is here again! Pepper fruit is in
town. It comes with the rains. It is spicy and
peppery. The young leaves are chewed on
account of their pungent spicy taste. The
fruits, green at first then turning red, ripen
in April and May have a peppery spicy taste
and are chewed for this property. The fruit
is held to be a good source of vitamin.
Botanically called Dennettia tripetala, pepper
fruit belongs to the plant family
Annonaceae. It is called ako in Edo, nkarika
in Ibibio, mmimi in Igbo, and ata igbere in
Yoruba.
But Nigerian researchers have
demonstrated how a meal rich in pepper
fruit reduces the risk of glaucoma by
stabilizing the Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) of
the eye.
The study titled Effect of Dennettia tripetela
Seed Intake on the Intra Ocular Pressure
(IOP) of normtensive Emmetropic Nigerian
Igbos, was authored by researchers at the
Department of Optometry Abia State
University, Uturu.
IOP is the pressure within the eyeball as a
result of the constant formation and
drainage of the aqueous humour. It is the
internal pressure of which allows the eye to
hold on to its shape and function properly.
Intraocular pressure is controlled primarily
by the rate of secretion or rate of drainage
of the aqueous humour. These will be
building up pressure leading to increased
risk of optic nerve damage, a pathological
condition called glaucoma.
Glaucoma is rated as the second leading
cause of vision loss worldwide. It is also
estimated that 66.8 million people are
affected by glaucoma worldwide and 6.7
million are bilaterally blind because of the
disease. It was said to affect individuals of
all age groups but is more prevalent after
the fourth decade of life.
Black subjects, in comparison with
Caucasian subjects are known to have
increased risk of optic nerve damage
caused by glaucoma. IOP is essential in
visual health because it sustains the
metabolism of the cornea and lens.
Generally, the normal range of IOP value is
between 13mmHg to 21mmHg. IOP above
these values are considered to be
pathological resulting in glaucoma.
According to the Abia State University
study, results obtained showed that
consumption of 0.75g of seed gradually
reduced the mean IOP from 15.6mmHg to
11.20mmHg, (25.64 per cent reduction)
after 60 minutes; and gradually reversed
towards baseline value at 120mins-post
ingestion. The mean induced change in IOP
at 60 minutes was 4.00mmHg. The effect
was found to be statistically significant.
The researchers wrote: “Result obtained
from this study showed that ingestion of
0.75g of reduced the Intra Ocular Pressure
(IOP) of normotensive emmetropes though
not sustained. At 30 minutes post
consumption of pepper fruit, the IOP was
reduced by 17.30 per cent (12.90mmHg)
from the mean baseline of 15.60mmHg. This
decrease in IOP was consistent at 60
minutes (a 25.64 per cent reduction
11.20mmHg) and then started reverting
towards baseline. This decrease was
therefore not found to be sustained after
60minutes post consumption of the seeds.
The IOP returned almost to baseline after
120 minutes (a mean of 15.40mmHg) post
ingestion of 0.75g. There was a statistically
significant reduction of IOP after 30
minutes and 60 minutes. This reduction in
IOP recorded was probably due to the
ascorbic acid, magnesium, flavonoid,
melatonin, thiamin, vitamin B, lipoid acid
content of Ascorbic acid had been
established to support the osmotic influx of
water following osmolarity elevation of
blood artificially leading to the fall in IOP.
“The effect of flavonoid in IOP reduction is
thought to be as a result of the reduction in
excessive permeability of blood aqueous
membrane within the eye. The presence of
lipoic acid (fatty acid) probably helped in
the reduction of IOP by increasing
glutathione in red blood cells and lacrimal
fluid of glaucomatous patients thereby
reducing the IOP.
“Finally, the presence of melatonin, thiamine
(vitamin B) and vitamin B perhaps also
contributed to the reduction in IOP. This is
due to the fact that melatonin levels have
been found to decrease in glaucomatous
patient and normal diurnal rhythms of IOP
fluctuation reflect melatoninrhythms. Since
glaucoma has been found to be one of the
leading causes of blindness worldwide the
need for cheaper and acceptable adjuvant
remedy becomes necessary Therefore
ingestion should be encouraged as an
adjuvant in the treatment of glaucoma. ”
According to a study published in African
Journal of Food Science by researchers at
the Department of Biochemistry, Federal
University of Technology, Akure, Ondo
State, pepper fruit is a well-known Nigerian
spicy medicinal plant normally used in folk
medicine to cure fever, cough, toothache, as
well as a stimulant and in the preparation of
some special dishes for pregnant and
postpartum women.
The study is titled “Changes in the total
phenol content and antioxidant properties
of pepper fruit (Dennettia tripetala) with
ripening. ”
The researchers concluded: “The present
study shows that unripe pepper fruit has
higher antioxidant activities than the ripe
pepper fruit, despite its lower total phenol
content. Therefore, the physiological
changes that accompanies ripening of
pepper fruits that brings about changes in
pigment would increase the total phenol,
but decreases the antioxidant properties of
pepper fruit. ” .
An epidemiological association between
those who have a diet rich in fresh fruits
and vegetable and a decreased risk of
cardiovascular disease and certain forms of
cancer has been recorded.
Some communities in parts of Southern
Nigeria also utilized the leaves and roots, in
addition to the fruits for medicinal purpose.
D. tripetala is used as masticators, which
when chewed produces unique peppery
effect. The peppery spicy taste of mature D.
tripetala fruits usually serves as a mild
stimulant to the consumer. The fruits are
sometimes taken with kolanut, garden egg
and palm wine in parts of Nigeria, especially
in Southern part of Nigeria where it serves
also for cultural entertainment of guests,
particularly during coronation, new yam
festivals, weddings and marriage festivals.
D. tripetala fruit has also been reported to
be used as spice in flavouring food, and as
seasoning, which are added to prepared
food such as meat, sausages, soups and
vegetable. The peppery fruits of D. tripetala
are applied to the food meant for pregnant
women and are important in the diets of
postpartum women, during which time it is
claimed that spices and herbs aid uterine
contraction. D. tripetala fruits contain
important nutritive substances such as
vitamins, minerals and fibre.
Other studies have identified bitter kola
(Garcinia kola) to be good for glaucoma. A
study published recently in Middle East
African Journal of Ophthalmology
concluded: “Topical Garcinia kola 0.5 per
cent aqueous eye drops are as effective as
timolol maleate 0.5 per cent eye drops in
lowering Intraocular Pressure (IOP) in newly
diagnosed glaucoma and ocular
hypertensive patients. The mean IOP
reducing efficacy after six months of use
was similar in both groups. Garcinia kola
extract may represent an alternate topical
medication for patient with open angle
glaucoma and ocular hypertensives in a
resource limited population. ”
The study is titled “Efficacy of Garcinia kola
0.5 per cent aqueous eye drops in patients
with primary open-angle glaucoma or
ocular hypertension. ”