Role of Mangroves in Coastal Ecosystems and Traditional Medicine

Mangrove ecosystems are highly productive coastal habitats that maintain ecological balance and protect shorelines from erosion, cyclones, and tidal surges while supporting biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Species such as Avicennia marina, Acanthus ilicifolius, and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza possess significant medicinal potential due to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals, including flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids. These phytochemicals exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, analgesic, and wound-healing activities. Among them, Avicennia marina is widely distributed along the Indian coast and is traditionally used in ethnomedicine to manage skin diseases, wounds, inflammatory conditions, digestive disorders, and gum ailments. Commonly referred to as Sāgarodbhūta due to its marine habitat, it has traditional applications that areincreasingly supported by modern pharmacological studies, highlighting its therapeutic relevance and bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary scientific evidence.