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A Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by Garo and Non-garo Traditional Medicinal Practitioners in Two Villages of Tangail District, Bangladesh

Mohammed Rahmatullah
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Md. Nur Kabidul Azam
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Md. Mizanur Rahman
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Syeda Seraj
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Mostafi Jumrut Mahal
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Sadia Moin Mou
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Dilruba Nasrin
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Zubaida Khatun
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Farhana Islam
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Majeedul H. Chowdhury
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Folk medicine is a traditional form of medicinal practice in Bangladesh, which is practiced by practitioners who exist both among the mainstream Bengali-speaking population as well as among the various tribes of Bangladesh. The mainstay of the folk medicinal formulations consist of medicinal plants, which are used directly or in the form of decoctions, juice, pastes and are administered either orally or topically, depending upon the ailments treated. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the traditional medicinal practitioners, otherwise known as Kavirajes of two villages of Madhupur sub-district in Tangail district of the country. One practitioner catered to the medicinal needs of the Bengali speaking population, while the other belonged to the Garo tribe and administered to the medicinal needs of the Garo village community. It was observed that a total of 53 plant species were prescribed by the two practitioners, of which 37 plants were prescribed by the non-Garo practitioner and 16 plants by the Garo practitioner. The various plant species belonged to 37 families. Major families included the Fabaceae family, which contributed 4 plants and the Acanthaceae, Combretaceae and Rutaceae families, which contributed 3 plants per family. Leaves formed the major plant part used (43.8%) in the formulations followed by stems and fruits at 14.1% each. Roots were used 12.5% of the time. Other plant parts used included sap, bark, flower, fruit, seed, oil and rhizome. Whole plants were not used at all by any of the two practitioners surveyed. The major ailments treated were gastrointestinal disorders (including diarrhea, dysentery and acidity) and sexual disorders (including loss of libido, infertility and passing of semen with urine). Nine plants were used for treatment of pain in various parts of the body and 8 plants were used for treatment of skin diseases. Four plants were used for treatment of jaundice and three plants each were used for treatment of fever, cholera, or urinary problems. Other diseases treated by the practitioners were helminthiasis, asthma, heart disorders and hemorrhoids, sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea and chicken pox. Two plants were used for preventive purposes; Opuntia dillenii was advised to be taken for maintenance of health and mental strength, while Tinospora crispa was advised to be taken for prevention of intestinal disorders. The Kavirajes also prescribed Zanthoxylum simulans not for treatment of any disease but as a vitamin source. Plants have always formed an important source for discovery of modern allopathic medicines. It is expected that the plants observed to be used for treatment of various diseases by the Kavirajes can be subjected for further bio-activity studies, which studies can lead to discovery of better drugs.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Garos, Tangail, Kaviraj, Bangladesh.

Location: Two Villages of Tangail District, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

It was the objective of the present study to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the traditional medicinal practitioners of two villages, namely Jool chotro and Janga lia in Madhupur sub-district of Tangail district, Bangladesh. The first village was inhabited by Bengali-speaking Muslim people, who form the majority population of the country, while the second village was inhabited by the Garos - a major ethnic community of the country. The Garos, although they have their own language have in recent years can speak and understand the Bengali language fluently.

Methodology:

The present survey was conducted among the folk and tribal medicinal practitioners of Jool chotro and Janga lia villages, which lie in Madhupur sub-district (Upazilla) of Tangail district, Bangladesh. The first village was inhabited by Bengali-speaking Muslim population, who form the majority of population within the country. The village had one Muslim folk medicinal practitioner (Kaviraj), named Md. Abdur Rahim. The second village was inhabited by the Garos, an ethnic community of Bangladesh who constitute one of the major tribes of the country. The Garos practice both Hinduism and animism, although in recent years, substantial numbers have converted to Christianity. The Garo tribal practitioner was named Sree Jatin Boshu and could speak Bengali fluently besides the Garo language.

Informed consent was first obtained from both practitioners. The practitioners had no objections to their names or their provided information being disseminated through national or international publications. Interviews were conducted in Bengali, which was the language spoken and understood by both interviewers and interviewees. Information on ailments treated and medicinal plants used in the treatments was collected with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method of Martin (1995) and Maundu (1995). Briefly, in this method, the practitioners took the interviewers on guided field-walks through areas from where they collected their plants, pointed out the plants, provided the names and described their uses. Plant specimens were collected and dried on the spot and later brought back to Dhaka for identification. Identification was done by Mr. Manjur-Ul-Kadir Mia, Ex-Curator and Principal Scientific Officer of the Bangladesh National Herbarium at Dhaka.

Source of Information: American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 5(3): 350-357, 2011 ISSN 1995-0748

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Documentation of the traditional uses of medicinal plants for treatment of various ailments can become a valuable tool for conducting further bio-active studies on the relevant plant species. These studies, can in turn, lead to discovery of lead compounds and novel efficacious drugs. A further benefit of obtaining information on valuable phytochemicals present in the plant and their disease-curing abilities can spur conservation efforts to protect not only one plant species but in general all plant species. Various plant species are threatened to the point of becoming endangered or extinct in various parts of the world. If this trend continues, human beings will lose an important asset for combating both existing as well as newly emerging diseases.

Knowledge Management: Journal