Grains Of Paradise
OTHER NAME(S): Afrika Kakulesi, Alligator Pepper, Graine de Paradis, Graines de Guinée, Grani de Meleguetta, Granos de Guinea, Granos del Paraíso, Guinea Grains, Guinea Pepper, Guineapfeffer, Khayrbûâ, Malagettapfeffer, Melagueta, Malaguette, Malagvet, Maleguetta Pepper, Mallaguetta Pepper, Maniguetta, Maniquette, Melegeti Aframon, Melegueta, Melegueta Pepper, Meleguetapfeffer, Meleguetta Pepper, Méléguette, Paradieskörner, Paradiskorn, Pimienta Melegueta, Plante du Paradis, Poivre de Guinée, Poivre du Paradis, Qâqullah Dhakar, Rajskiye Zyorna, Semence de Paradis, Sha Ren, Aframomum melegueta, Amomum melegueta, Aframomum, Grains-of-Paradise, Graines de Paradis, Granos Del Paraíso, Maniguette
Overview
Grains of paradise is a plant that is related to ginger. The seeds are used as a spice and as medicine.
Be careful not to confuse grains of paradise with capsicum. Both are known as grains of paradise.
People use grains of paradise for conditions such as diarrhea, heart disease, obesity, and many others, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Chemicals in the seeds of grains of paradise seem to decrease swelling (inflammation), kill certain bacteria, and help burn body fat.
Chemicals in the seeds of grains of paradise seem to decrease swelling (inflammation), kill certain bacteria, and help burn body fat.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Cancer.
- Diabetes.
- Diarrhea.
- Heart disease.
- Indigestion (dyspepsia).
- Infections of the kidney, bladder, or urethra (urinary tract infections or UTIs).
- Obesity.
- Sexual problems that prevent satisfaction during sexual activity.
- Stomach ulcers.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of grains of paradise for this use.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Grains of paradise extracts are POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth, short term. There isn't enough reliable information to know if grains of paradise extracts are safe when taken by mouth long-term.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Grains of paradise extracts are POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth, short term. There isn't enough reliable information to know if grains of paradise extracts are safe when taken by mouth long-term.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if grains of paradise is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Interactions
We currently have no information for Grains of Paradise overview.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of grains of paradise depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for grains of paradise. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
- Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
- Reid D. A handbook of Chinese healing herbs. Boston, MA:Shambhala, 1995.
- Ilic N, Schmidt BM, Poulev A, Raskin I. Toxicological evaluation of Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta) [Roscoe] K. Shum. J Ethnopharmacol 2010;127:352-6.
- Ilic NM, Dey M, Poulev AA, Logendra S, Kuhn PE, Raskin I. Anti-inflammatory activity of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta Schum) extract. J Agric Food Chem 2014;62(43):10452-7.
- Sugita J, Yoneshiro T, Sugishima Y, et al. Daily ingestion of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract increases whole-body energy expenditure and decreases visceral fat in humans. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 2014;60(1):22-7.
- Ngwoke KG, Chevallier O, Wirkom VK, Stevenson P, Elliott CT, Situ C. In vitro bactericidal activity of diterpenoids isolated from Aframomum melegueta K.Schum against strains of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. J Ethnopharmacol 2014;151(3):1147-54.
- Sugita J, Yoneshiro T, Hatano T, et al. Grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta) extract activates brown adipose tissue and increases whole-body energy expenditure in men. Br J Nutr 2013;110(4):733-8.
- Hattori H, Yamauchi K, Onwona-Agyeman S, Mitsunaga T. Identification of vanilloid compounds in grains of paradise and their effects on sympathetic nerve activity. J Sci Food Agric 2018;98(12):4742-8.
- Yoneshiro T, Matsushita M, Sugita J, et al. Prolonged Treatment with Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta) Extract Recruits Adaptive Thermogenesis and Reduces Body Fat in Humans with Low Brown Fat Activity. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 2021;67(2):99-104.