Rain forests of Madagascar: sources of industrial and medicinal plants

The main purpose of this paper is to provide an outline of the economic and pharmaceutical value of the flora of Madagascar. Six medicinal plants have been exported over the last fifteen years on a commerical basis. Since 1985, four additional plant species have been added to those exported as a result of a continuing natural products research program on the Malagasy flora. Three local institutions are actively working on natural products. As a result of the last fifteen years of joint effort, three medicinal plants namely Ilex mitis, Eugenia jambolana and Aloe vahombe have produced significant results. Three of the main project areas being developed are: antimalarial, anticancer and antiviral biological screening.