Nigeria has several culinary herbs and spices with medicinal, pharmaceutical and industrial uses. This paper presents the importance of selected culinary herbs and spices for promotion of health and wellness in Nigeria, such as: ginger (Zingiber officinale), garlic (Allium sativum), black pepper (Piper nigrum), African nutmeg (Monodora myristica), alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta), negro pepper (Xylopia aethiopica), aidan tree (Tetrapleura tetraptera), African basil (Ocimum gratissimum), African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa), amaranth globe (Gongronema latifolium Benth), and turmeric (Curcuma longa). Culinary herbs and spices in Nigeria contain beneficial phytochemicals with great potentials as functional foods and nutraceuticals. They possess cholesterol-lowering and antidiabetic effects, as well as antimicrobial, antimycobacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antihepatotoxicity properties for treatment of diseases and for promotion of health and wellbeing of Nigerians.
Keywords: Culinary herbs. Spices. Phytochemicals. Health. Wellness.
Igwillo, U., C.C., N , M.M., A , A.E., C & C.O., N (2021). Culinary Herbs and Spices for Promotion of Health and Wellness in Nigeria. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/culinary-herbs-and-spices-for-promotion-of-health-and-wellness-in-nigeria
Igwillo, Ugochukwu, et. al. "Culinary Herbs and Spices for Promotion of Health and Wellness in Nigeria" Afribary. Afribary, 05 Nov. 2021, https://track.afribary.com/works/culinary-herbs-and-spices-for-promotion-of-health-and-wellness-in-nigeria. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
Igwillo, Ugochukwu, Nwokeke C.C. , Abdullahi M.M. , Chukwuemeka A.E. and Nwokeke C.O. . "Culinary Herbs and Spices for Promotion of Health and Wellness in Nigeria". Afribary, Afribary, 05 Nov. 2021. Web. 24 Dec. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/culinary-herbs-and-spices-for-promotion-of-health-and-wellness-in-nigeria >.
Igwillo, Ugochukwu, Nwokeke C.C. , Abdullahi M.M. , Chukwuemeka A.E. and Nwokeke C.O. . "Culinary Herbs and Spices for Promotion of Health and Wellness in Nigeria" Afribary (2021). Accessed December 24, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/culinary-herbs-and-spices-for-promotion-of-health-and-wellness-in-nigeria