Negro pepper( Xylo-pia aethiopica ) also known as Uda by the Igbos in Nigeria, has different other names like Senegal pepper, selim pepper, Ethiopian pepper, African Guinea pepper. Uda is a tall evergreen aromatic tree, growing as tall as 20m high found in Africa, Brazil and South America.

Negro pepper contains flavonoids, alkaloids, cineol, phytosterols, tannins, saponins, glycosides, carbohydrates, β-pinene, paradol, α-terpineol, terpinene-4-ol, terpenes, cryptone, verbenone, β-phellandrene, spathulenol, bisabolene, trans-pinocarveol, limonene, linalool, and myrtenol.

Uda is used as spice for flavoring foods like soups, porridge yam, stews, sauce, meat and fish etc. It can be ground or used as a whole. The seed, stem and bark of Uda can be used to prepare herbal medicine.

Benefits of Uda

1. The Uda can be used as a herbal stimulant for treating gastrointestinal problems such as stomachache, dysentery and gastric ulcers.
2. Dried Negro peppers are usually used in folk medicine for increasing the menstrual blood flow. It can also be used for treating amenorrhea, which is an abnormal absence of menstruation.
3. Aqueous extract from Uda is effective against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. It can be used as anti microbial agent.
4. Negro pepper can be used to relieve pain as it acts as an analgesic.
5. The essential oil from Negro pepper can be used for the manufacture of cosmetics like cream, soaps, perfumes etc.
6. Xylopia aethiopica has anti-spirochoectal properties so that it works both as a preventive measure and in treatment of primary, secondary and tertiary stages of syphilis.
7. Negro pepper has anti inflammatory properties and so can be used in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and other inflammatory conditions.
8. Anti malaria properties of Uda makes it a useful tool for prevention and treatment of malaria.
9. The phytochemical constituents of Negro pepper like flavonoids makes it a useful tool for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
10. Uda seed is used to prepare food given to women after delivery to relieve pains, promote healing and lactation.

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