Plants folk medicine of Negrito tribes of Bay Islands

Abstract

The Negrito tribes of Andaman Islands nurture rich knowledge about the medicinal plants of their surroundings acquired by trial and error over millennia. The ethnomedicinal plants of Great Andamanese, Onges and Jarawa tribes are presented. These tribes were found using more than 52 plant species in their ethnomedicinal practices. Plants used to cure fever, headache, stomach disorder, cough and cold, cuts and wounds, bee repellent, joint pains and leech bite are recorded. Botanical names, family, local name, plant parts used and uses are provided for each species. Phytochemical investigations of these medicinal plants are desirable.