An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants traditionally used by the natives of Lakshadweep Islands, India

Abstract

Lakshadweep archipelago is a small group of islands in the Arabian Sea consisting of 36 islands; only 10 islands are inhabited. The vegetation is typical Indo-Pacific atoll coral island flora. The present study is based on a survey among all inhabited islands to identify and document the area's ethnobotanical important and economic plants. Their ethnobotanical uses categorized the plants identified for the study. There are 70 different species of angiosperms found traditionally associated with island people. The people from the age group 40 and above are the stakeholders of the ethnic plant medicines. The traditional knowledge is circumscribed among the people of age group of 60 and above. Some exceptions were noticed among the people of age group 40-55 in some islands. It is noticed that the men are dominating in the traditional healing practices than the women. It is noted that the young generation of the islanders has very negligible knowledge of traditional healing practices. Most of the conventional practitioners are no more to share the ability with the younger generation. The study reveals that there is massive destruction of natural vegetation in the islands due to anthropogenic activities. Soil erosion is also very high in islands, which leads to the decline of coastal vegetation.