title: Medicinal plants used by women from Agnalazaha littoral forest (Southeastern Madagascar).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The country of Madagascar is renowned for its high level of biodiversity and endemism, as well as the overwhelming pressures and threats placed on the natural resources by a growing population and climate change. Traditional medicine plays an important role in the daily lives of the Malagasy for various reasons including limited access to healthcare, limited markets and traditional values. The objective of this study was to assess the modern utitilization of the Agnalazaha Forest by the local population in Mahabo-Mananivo, Madagascar, for medicinal plants used by women, and to establish a list of medicinal plants used by women sourced from Agnalazaha Forest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ethnobotanical studies were conducted over a period of five months in 2010 to determine the diversity of medicinal plants used by women in the commune of Mahabo-Mananivo. In all, 498 people were interviewed, both male and female ranging age from 15 to over 60 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  152 medicinal plants used by local people were collected during the ethnobotanical studies. Among the recorded species, eight native species are widely used by women. These species are known for their therapeutic properties in treating placental apposition and complications during childbirth as well as tropical illnesses such as malaria, filariasis, and sexual diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Littoral forests are rare ecosystems that are highly threatened on the island nation of Madagascar. Our investigation into the use of medicinal plants sourced from and around the Agnalazaha Forest by the women of Mahabo-Mananivo reinforces the need for this natural resource as a first line of health care for rural families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Antananarivo, BP 566, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar. mendrika_razafindraibe@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Mendrika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Razafindraibe
authors.forename: Alyse R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kuhlman
authors.forename: Harison
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rabarison
authors.forename: Vonjison
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rakotoarimanana
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rajeriarison
authors.forename: Nivo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rakotoarivelo
authors.forename: Tabita
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Randrianarivony
authors.forename: Fortunat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rakotoarivony
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ludovic
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Randrianasolo
authors.forename: Rainer W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bussmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008270:Madagascar; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014197:Trees; D055815:Young Adult