Short Note
Prekese (Aidan fruit) is a pea family plant native to west tropical Africa, scientifically referred to as Tetrapleura tetraptera.
The plant’s fruits have a powerful fragrant scent that makes it insect repellant, and it’s mostly used as a spice.
The fruit starts off green, but eventually turns brown, like a chunk of wood. It is largely utilized as a medicinal herb in Ghana, Nigeria, and other African nations.
Potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, protein, and vitamin C are all found in the plant.
Prekese or Aidan fruit benefits
1. It Controls Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not generate or uses insulin properly. It’s a metabolic disorder characterized by excessive blood sugar levels.
According to a study, Prekese is effective in the treatment of diabetes. Blood sugar levels are reduced as a result of the fruit extract.
2. It Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
According to a study, the aqueous extract of Prekese is anti-inflammatory and hypoglycemic.
These findings support claims that the plant’s fruit may be used to manage and/or treat arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.
3. It Has Anti-Malarial Properties
According to a study, In-vivo antiplasmodial activity of the prekese fruit ethanolic extract was tested.
When compared to a standard antimalarial treatment, chloroquine (5mg/kg), the extract (300-900 mg/kg) displayed substantial blood schizonticidal action in both the 4-day early infection test and in established infection, with a significant mean survival time.
The fruit extract was shown to have strong antiplasmodial action.
4. It Increases Sexual Behavior and Fertility
Prekese improves steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, testicular histological integrity, and sexual competence in rats, according to research.
Furthermore, it greatly improves sperm count, motility, normal morphology, daily sperm production, sperm efficiency, and sperm quality (average path velocity, straight line velocity and curvilinear velocity).
It also helped with increased frequencies of mount, intromission, ejaculation, and ejaculatory delay, improved testicular histological integrity, sexual behavior, and desire.
5. It is Used in Dermatological Care
The prekese or aidan fruit may be dried and ground into a powder to make dermatological treatments like soap.
It’s worth noting that the Prekese (Aidan fruit) plant helps to enhance soap foaming.
6. It Helps in Wound Healing
Flavonoids, triterpenoid glycoside, and phenols are key chemical substances found in prekese or aidan pods that have been shown to be useful in wound healing.
How Prekese (Aidan fruit) is Used Traditionally
- The Aidan fruit tree stem, root, leaves, bark, and pods can be soaked, pressed, crushed, extracted, or integrated into a number of herbal preparations and soups.
- Prekese (Aidan fruit) is widely used as a culinary spice in soups, sprinkled over meat such as lamb or venison, or infused into beverages.
- Prekese (Aidan fruit) has also been used to make skin-soothing soaps and balms, and the plant may be used with palm kernel oil or shea butter for dermatological treatment when dried and crushed into a fine powder.
- Fruit and flowers have also found their way into locally produced items such as fragrances and may be used as a natural insect repellent.
- In Ghana, the Prekese flavor is also added to soft drinks, which are marketed as a healthy drink that lowers blood pressure, improves blood flow, and minimizes asthma episodes.
NB: Prekese (Aidan fruit) should be avoided during pregnancy.
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