Plants used in traditional medicine in the Comoros archipelago: a review

إنجليزي. peer reviewed

إنجليزي. In the Comoros archipelago, as in many places in Africa, traditional medicine is the first reflex people have when it comes to finding a cure. This work illustrates the diversity of remedies found in this group of islands. The plant species potentially effective from a pharmaceutical point of view can be targeted through the comparison of different databases. At the same time, the present study also illustrates the importance of preventing the loss of traditional knowledge based on hundreds of years of observations. Literature: The gathered information in this paper originates from data bases built by ethnobotanists as well as peer reviewed scientific articles. In addition, some information also comes from work done by locals working with recognized organisms. Conclusion: The scientific literature cites 207 different species that are used for traditional practices in the Comoros Archipelago, among which 9 are endemic. These species were compared to the pharmacopoeias of other islands and surroundings from the Indian Ocean in terms of similarities and differences between targeted ailments. Only 3% of the cited species present similarities in use among the islands of the Indian Ocean and surroundings. Most species mentioned in this work have many different uses throughout the Indian Ocean and surroundings. In addition, the importance of defining each physical area of study in a precise way in order to have the most significant results was emphasized. Other important aspects of ethnopharmacology were highlighted, such as the safekeeping of traditional knowledge, as well as the ecological impact an intensive use of some species of interest might cause. Clearly, plants are a rich resource that should be studied and used with an environmentally orientated way of thinking.