Medicinal plants consumed in Kochi, in the 16th century and nowadays

The main objective of this research is to investigate how the residents of Kochi manage to solve their health problems, when they cannot access the healthcare system or when they choose to use alternative therapies, in modern times. The specific objective of this work is to compile the therapeutic species used in the 16^th century and to compare them with the ones used nowadays. The Indian flora and particularly the spices have been fascinating mankind from the beginning of times. In 1498, the Portuguese discovered the sea route to East Indies and for the next two centuries this small European country has largely dominated the spice trade. Following the spice route the Portuguese Tropical Research Institute (IICT) recently organized a scientific mission to Kerala in order to investigate the fruits, vegetables, spices, tubers, and medicinal plants gardened in front and backyards, traded in fairs and shops, and recommended by Ayurvedic medicine healers in the city of Kochi. We started by reading four 16^th century manuscripts where several spices, aromatic and medicinal plant species were enumerated. Results show that a good number of plants collected during the IICT survey, in 2013, were already in use during renaissance.

India; Gardens; Spices; Medicinal plants