Exploring the Ethnobotanical Resources of Indian Sundarbans: An Insight into Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The Indian Sundarbans, a unique ecosystem comprising mangrove forests and diverse habitats, harbors an extensive array of medicinal plants with profound healing properties. This chapter navigates through the rich source of indigenous medicinal plants of the Sundarbans like Hogla, Hetal, Goran, Bain, Sundari, etc. outlining their traditional uses and potential therapeutic applications. Focusing on the roles of these plants in local healthcare practices, we tried to combine traditional wisdom with current scientific insights that hold great potential for pharmaceutical advancements. Different bioactive compounds (alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids) produced by medicinal mangroves have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer activities and other health-care potentials. Threats of habitat degradation, climate change, and anthropogenic activities pose grave risks to the existence of these invaluable plants, warranting immediate attention to safeguard their biodiversity. In a world where consumers are increasingly seeking natural and sustainable alternatives to promote their health, using plants as a medicinal source is commercially and environmentally feasible.