Unveiling the potential and specificity of the Mahoran ethnopharmacopoeia: a field survey

Ethnopharmacological relevance: A significant portion of Mahoran people relies on traditional medicine to address their healthcare needs. However, very few studies have been carried out on this subject, and few data are available on the practices, plants used, and ailments most commonly treated by their traditional medicine.

Aim of the study: Within this context, the aim of this study was to identify the diseases most commonly treated by traditional Mahoran medicine, as well as the plants most commonly used against these various ailments.

Materials and methods: From January to April 2023, a semi-structured survey was carried out in Mayotte island. A total of 103 participants were interviewed including 65 non specialists, 21 knowledgeable, and 17 specialists. A thorough literature review was performed on the most cited plant species to evaluate the benefit-risk of each remedy.

Results: Participants mentioned using 474 remedies (prepared mostly with herbal ingredients) to treat 65 diseases. These diseases belong to various health categories of which the most represented ones were digestive system, respiratory system, genital system, general, and muscular system. The two most common ailments cited by participants were stomachache (41/103) and cough (36/103). A total of 154 plant species were identified, with Coleus amboinicus, Citrus aurantiifolia, Moringa oleifera, and Ocimum gratissimum being the main plants reported. Massage therapy was the second most important traditional practices reported after the use of herbal remedies.

Conclusion: Our survey confirms the importance of traditional medical pratices in Mayotte island. The following plants: Aerva lanata, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Coleus madagascariensis Paullinia pinnata, and Woodfordia fruticosa stand out from the others in terms of their use and number of citations, and it would be interesting to study their pharmacological and toxicological properties. Traditional medicine in Mayotte also possesses specificities, notably with the use of particular ingredients such as salt, coral stone, or even white clay. Furthermore, throughout the study, we noticed that chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension were extensively treated. This could be linked to the fact that the prevalence of these diseases is quite high on the island.