, the plant has some other common names used in other regions of the world){kind=link}
‘Prekese’ is one of the names of ingredients that has become popular with its local name.
We have inadvertently accepted or use the name though it has a scientific name.
Read more below to find out the English Name of ‘Prekese’.
The botanical name of the plant ‘prekese’ is Tetrapleura tetraplera.
What follows is a detailed description of the plant:
1. Taxonomy and Botanical Name
Botanical Name: Tetrapleura tetraplera (Schumach. & Thonn.) Taub.
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae) – The legume family
Subfamily: MimosoideaeTribe: Ingeae
Genus: Tetrapleura
Species: tetraplera
2. English and Other Common Names
Besides ‘prekese’ (used primarily in Ghana), the plant has some other common names used in other regions of the world:
Aidan fruit (commonly used English name)
Uhio (Nigeria, particularly among the Igbo people)
Osakirisa or Essesewa (Ghanaian communities)
Apapa (Nigerian communities)
READ ALSO: PassionAir, Africa World Airlines get flexible refueling at Tamale Airport
3. Tetrapleura tetraplera (prekese) Description
Tetrapleura tetraplera is a West African tropical evergreen tree of tall nature. It grows up to 20-25 meters high. Some of its key features include:
Fruits: The most typical part of the plant is its four-winged pod-like fruit, which is generally 15-25 cm long and dark brown at maturity. These fruits have a pungent, aromatic odor due to the essential oils they contain. The wings are leathery and contain a sweet and slightly acidic pulp.
Leaves: Leaves are bipinnately compound, meaning they have a number of leaflets on branches that further divide from the main leaf stalk.
Flowers: Flowers are small, fragrant, and typically yellowish-white, in spikes.
4. ‘Prekese’ Common Uses
Fruit ‘prekese’ and other parts of the Tetrapleura tetraplera tree are traditionally and potentially beneficial in numerous contemporary ways:
Culinary Uses: The fruit is a common flavoring agent in West African cuisine, particularly in soups, stews, and drinks. It imparts a characteristic sweet and fragrant flavor. In Ghana, it is one of the signature ingredients in palm nut soup and light soup.
Traditional Medicine: Various components of the plant, including the fruit, bark, and leaves, are used in traditional medicine for their purported medicinal significance.
Spices and Flavoring: Powdered and dried fruit is used as a food additive and spice.
Hygiene: Fragrant fruit is sometimes used as a natural air freshener.
Folk Remedies: Plant preparations have been used traditionally to cure such conditions as fever, cough, asthma, hypertension, epilepsy, and gastrointestinal problems. The bark is sometimes used in wound healing.
5. Cultural Significance
‘Prekese’ holds high cultural significance in certain West African countries, particularly Ghana and Nigeria:
Rituals and Ceremonies: The fruit is used in traditional ceremonies in certain cultures, including naming ceremonies, funerals, and celebrations. It may symbolize prosperity, good luck, and spiritual cleansing.
Traditional Practices: The plant is routinely included in traditional healing practices and beliefs. Its application in certain rituals indicates its presumed spiritual and medicinal strength.
Social Significance: ‘Prekese’ is a component of traditional dishes and has a tendency to connect people to their cultural heritage and food patterns. Recipes using prekese are typically passed down through generations.
6. Health Benefits
Scientific research is being conducted to validate the traditional uses and identify the precise compounds responsible for the potential health benefits of Tetrapleura tetraplera.
Some studies have indicated the presence of bioactive compounds with the following activities:
Important Note: While traditional uses and preliminary research suggest potential health benefits, healthcare practitioners should be consulted prior to the use of Tetrapleura tetraplera as medicine.
More well-designed scientific studies, including clinical trials, are needed to confirm these benefits, determine appropriate dosages, and ascertain potential side effects.
SOURCE: HARMATTANWEB.COM