Review of Traditional Plants from Toliara Province in Southern Madagascar for the Treatment of Diabetes and Cancer

Abstract

In all countries, plants have always been and still are used for their health benefits as part of traditional medicine. The same is true of Madagascar, which also boasts considerable biodiversity, including plants that are totally endemic to the country. Our study aims to identify medicinal plants traditionally used to treat diabetes and cancer in the province of Toliara in Madagascar. At the end of the survey we carried out with the local population, using pre-established questionnaires, 34 plants were identified. Thus, among the species recorded, Myrothamnus moschatus, Zanthoxylum decaryi and Calotropis procera were targeted. These are multi-use species, they are used respectively to treat convulsion, hypertension and healing. Among the three species studied, two are endemic to Madagascar (Myrothamnus moschatus and Zanthoxylum decaryi), however the third is introduced. This study has enabled us to demonstrate the importance of ethnobotanical investigation in the field of research. The identification of these three species provides us with a basis for phytochemical development.