Ethnopharmacological study of nine medicinal plants from Mayotte

Mayotte, an island in the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean, has rich biodiversity spanning both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Traditional medicine remains widely practiced, relying on a diverse yet under-researched local pharmacopoeia. As part of the Integrated Innovation Hub of Mayotte (PI 2 M), a research focus on medicinal plants was launched to enhance the value of local biodiversity. In 2023, a preliminary survey of 103 island residents identified 154 medicinal plant species, with 12 commonly cited for specific ailments. This led to a publication in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology [ 1 ]. A follow-up PhD project was initiated to assess the efficacy, safety, and quality of the most used plants. Based on criteria such as local use, endemic status, and existing pharmacological data, nine species were selected: Coleus madagascariensis , Decalobanthus peltatus , Leptadenia madagascariensis , Leucas grandis , Mimusops comorensis , Paullinia pinnata , Phyllarthron comorense , Tragia furialis , and Vepris boiviniana . Initial antibacterial tests on these plants showed that five had significant activity against six out of ten bacterial strains. Notably, ethanol and water extracts from Vepris boiviniana leaves inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae at 4 μg/mL. Further bio-guided studies and phytochemical analysis will isolate the active compounds, contributing to the scientific validation of Mayotte’s traditional medicine and its potential inclusion in the French pharmacopoeia. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany