Have you heard about the amazing herbal spice popularly known as Uziza?

 Well, if you are Nigerian, especially from the south-eastern region, you most likely have used it in preparing your soups, stews, and other meals.

Uziza is scientifically called piper guineense, a local spice used in Nigerian dishes. It is commonly referred to as “The King of Spices”. Uziza is valued for its flavor, aroma, nutritional and medicinal uses thus making it an important commodity. By its nature; Uziza (both the seed and the leaf) is spicy, aromatic, and carminative. That is why it gives a hot, slightly bitter, and pungent aroma to meals.

Piper guineense is commonly used in preparing egusi soup and other local soups depending on individual choice but often complements ora (oha) leaf in soups. The uziza seed is often grounded and used in almost all kinds of local dishes. It has no bounds but dependent on the choice of taste, aroma, and flavor the cook wants. 

But did you know that uziza has much more to give to the body apart from its culinary properties as mentioned above? Yes! Uziza contains mainly vitamins A, C, E, K, niacin, and β-carotene; and traces of minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorous. The amino acid content of uziza works for enhancing the bioavailability of nutrients, i.e its protein content boosts the internal synthesis of the essential proteins in the human body and also boosts the immune system. So, have it in mind that whenever you add uziza to your delicacies, you are equally enriching your body with minerals, vitamins, proteins that also enhance your immune system functionality.

Now, let’s focus on the medicinal potencies of this wonderful herbal spice “Uziza” which are too numerous to mention.  Thus, we will be looking at the most glaring ones:

 Good for intestinal disorders: Piper guineense (Uziza) can be used in the treatment of intestinal disorders like indigestion, flatulence, dysentery, diarrhea, and cholera.  A 1999 study by Sumathykutty and co. agrees that Piper guineense ‘Uziza’ leaves are aseptic in nature, with the ability to relieve flatulence.  Also, plants containing tannins as their primary component like uziza are astringent, thus very beneficial for the management of diarrhea, dysentery, and inflammation of the mucous membrane.

Fertility treatment: Nwachukwu and co (2010) found out in research that Piper guineense ‘Uziza’ is suitable for treating Infertility in women & Low sperm count in men. These authors further recommended that women with infertility problems should boil Piper guineense ‘Uziza’ together with Xylopia Spp (Uda), lime juice, Honey, Congronema latifolium (utazi),, and pepper in one liter of water and then take 1 glass cup daily only during menstruation (for women). Men, on the other hand, can take ½ bottle of lime juice mixed with 1 bottle of honey (1 shot, twice daily) for low sperm count treatment.

However, nursing mothers from the Eastern part of Nigeria also use Piper guineense to enhance uterine contraction for the expulsion of the placenta and other remains from the womb after birth as they believe that Uziza helps the uterine muscles to return to their original shape.  Nursing mothers, expectant mothers, and everyone involved in the management of women during pregnancy should incorporate it into the meal plans, except your doctor says otherwise.

 Aphrodisiac: Studies also suggest that Piper guineense can increase sexual behavior when consumed and this is supported in a research carried out by Kamtchouing and partners which revealed that the sexual orientation of the male rat towards the female increased after consuming an aqueous extract from Piper guineense. So, if you need improve your sexual performance, or your partner’s, consuming uziza as often as possible can make all the difference.

Anti-cancer: The Flavonoids in uziza are potent water-soluble antioxidants and free radical scavengers which prevent oxidative cell damage. They possess strong anti-cancer and anti-ulcer activity and protects against different levels of carcinogenesis. Agbaire in his book in 2011 substantiated this fact and stressed it vehemently.

Anti-inflammatory: Uziza also contains large amounts of beta-caryophyllene which is being investigated as an anti-inflammatory agent.  Inflammation is the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants.

Pain reliever: Piper guineense contains alkaloids. Alkaloids are one of the most efficient therapeutically significant bioactive substances in plants. They are used as Central Nervous System stimulants, powerful pain relievers, topical anesthetic in ophthalmology among others.

Natural insecticides: A laboratory evaluation of ethanolic extracts of Piper guineense (seeds and leaves) on mosquito larvae carried out by Ihemanma and partners showed that the leaf and seed extract of uziza have Larvicidal effects at high concentration on mosquito larvae.  Hence, this plant could be utilized in the production of botanical larvicides which could be used as a substitute for the synthetic ones as they are readily available, affordable, eco-friendly, and biodegradable. You could be indirectly treating yourself and your household of malaria through constant usage of this wonderful spice.

Wow!!!! Uziza has much and much more value that  it provides the body apart from its spicy aroma, flavour, and taste. It has many nutritional benefits as well as a hidden medicine, and could be treating certain ailments in our body without our very knowledge. Always incorporate this wonderful spice into your delicacies as often as you can.