Traditional botanical remedies on a small Caribbean island: Middle (Grand) Caicos, West Indies.

A descriptive survey of 18 medicinal plants utilized on Middle (Grand) Caicos Island in the West Indies revealed that each species has multiple applications. Phytochemical constituents, ascertained from published sources, suggest pharmacological/physiological efficacy in the ethnomedical treatment of various disorders. Traditional preparation procedures may enhance the chemotherapeutic value of the plant derivatives, while at the same time reducing their potential toxicity. The majority of species used in Middle Caicos are also exploited in other cultures but often for very different purposes.