An investigation into the consumption patterns, attitude, and perception of Mauritians towards common medicinal food plants

The use of medicinal food plants (MFP) as herbal remedies is currently undergoing a renewed interest, with increased sales, consumer preference and regulatory interest. Mauritius is a multi-cultural island with a long-standing tradition in the use of herbal remedies. This study has endeavoured to evaluate the consumption pattern, culinary and medicinal uses, attitude and perceptions of Mauritians towards seven common MFP ( Amaranthus hybridus (amaranth), Aloe vera (aloe), Momordica charantia (bitter-melon), Lagenaria siceraria (bottle-gourd), Moringa oleifera (drumstick/leaves), Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit) and Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit)) with the aim of identifying significant influential factors (if any) which shape attitudes of Mauritians. Questionnaire-guided face to face interviews were performed ( n = 384; age ≥ 30 years). Preliminary analyses, descriptive statistics and inferential tests (ANOVA, t -tests and χ 2 test) were applied. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices (use value (UV), fidelity level (FL) and informant consensus factor (ICF)) were used to assess the medicinal importance of the MFP. There was a general consensus that MFP were known for their medicinal role. Taste was a significant ( p p p p