The Use and Chemical Content of Some Indigenous Nigerian Spices

Abstract

ABSTRACT The utilization of some indigenous, Nigerian spices were studied in sample households from urban and rural areas in Southeastern Nigeria. The data, collected by a questionnaire, indicated that 94 percent of the urban and 82 percent of the rural households used spices and condiments produced by indigenous perennial plants and that cultural and medicinal significance was attached to use of these species as spices. The proximate composition of African pepper (Xylopia aethiopica), Guinean pepper (Piper guineense), African nutmeg (Monodora myrislica), and Pepper fruit (Dennettia tripetala) were determined.