Traditional medical practices for children in five islands from the Society archipelago (French Polynesia)
Authors
François Chassagne
UMR 152 PharmaDev, Université Paul Sabatier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Toulouse, France
Jean-François Butaud
Correspondant du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (PatriNat), Paris & Consultant en foresterie et botanique polynesienne, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Raimana Ho
UMR 214 EIO, Université de Polynésie Française, IFREMER, ILM, IRD, Faaa, Tahiti French Polynesia
Eric Conte
Maison des Sciences de l’Homme du Pacifique (UAR 2503), Université de la Polynésie Française / Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Édouard Hnawia
UMR 152 PharmaDev, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Nouméa, New Caledonia
Phila Raharivelomanana
UMR 214 EIO, Université de Polynésie Française, IFREMER, ILM, IRD, Faaa, Tahiti French Polynesia
Keywords:
Pacific, Traditional medicine, Ethnobotany, Safety, Efficacy
Abstract
Traditional Polynesian medicine for children has been poorly documented, and few data are available on their efficacy and safety. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify traditional practices used for treating children and then assess the efficacy and safety of the most cited remedies by reviewing the literature.
Methods
In 2022, a semi-structured survey was carried out on five islands from the Society archipelago (Bora Bora, Huahine, Moorea, Raiatea, and Tahiti). A total of 86 participants were interviewed including 19 experts in herbalism. A thorough literature review was performed on the most cited plant species to gather the relevant ethnobotanical, pharmacological, and clinical data of each remedy.
Results
Participants mentioned using 469 remedies to treat 69 health disorders. The most represented health categories were digestive system, skin disorders, infectious diseases, and respiratory system. A total of 67 plant species (representing 731 use-reports) were mentioned and Annona muricata, Gardenia taitensis, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis were the main plants reported. Regarding the safety of cited remedies, one plant (Microsorum grossum) showed high risk of toxicity, and its use should be avoided in infants and children.
Conclusion
Our survey confirms the importance of traditional medical practices for children in the Society Islands. A lack of data in children for most cited remedies demonstrate the need for more pharmacological and toxicological research on Polynesian medicinal plants. Finally, the potential risk of toxicity for some cited plant species reported calls for a better information of traditional medicine users and healers.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13002-023-00617-0.
Keywords: Pacific, Traditional medicine, Ethnobotany, Safety, Efficacy
Author Biography
François Chassagne, UMR 152 PharmaDev, Université Paul Sabatier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Toulouse, France
Maison des Sciences de l’Homme du Pacifique (UAR 2503), Université de la Polynésie Française / Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Tahiti, French Polynesia
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