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Medicinal Plants Used by Tribal Medicinal Practitioners of Three Clans of the Chakma Tribe Residing in Rangamati District, Bangladesh

Rashida Tabassum Esha
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Motiur Rahman Chowdhury
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Susamoy Adhikary
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Khan Md. Ariful Haque
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Mousumi Acharjee
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Md. Nurunnabi
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju, Republic of Korea, 380-702

Zehedina Khatun
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju, Republic of Korea, 380-702

Yong-kyu Lee
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation, Chungju, Republic of Korea, 380-702

Mohammed Rahmatullah*
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The Chakmas are the largest tribe inhabiting the forested hilly regions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which lies in the southeastern part of Bangladesh. Although they are scattered in all four districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, they are mostly concentrated in the districts of Rangamati and Khagrachari. The tribal population is currently estimated at around 300,000. The Chakmas are distinguished by having their own language with alphabets and their own distinctive culture, which includes their own rituals and own tribal medicinal practitioners. More than 30 clans (which are further sub-divided into over 50 sects) exist within the tribe. It was the objective of the present study to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the tribal medicinal practitioners of Baburo, Haduga, and Larma clans of the Chakma tribe inhabiting the Rangamati district of Bangladesh as to their traditional formulations for treatment of various ailments. The survey was conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. One practitioner from each clan was interviewed. It was observed that the three tribal practitioners, among themselves, used a total of 73 plants distributed into 42 families for treatment of ailments. The Rubiaceae family contributed 7 plants followed by the Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Lamiaceae families with four plants each. Leaves constituted the major plant part used, forming 60.2% of total uses. Leaves were followed by barks, roots, fruits and stems, which respectively, formed 12.9, 8.6, 7.5 and 5.4% of total uses. Respiratory disorders (coughs, mucus), skin diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, hemorrhoids, fever, eye disorders, urinary tract disorders, helminthiasis, stomach and kidney stones, paralysis, pain, rheumatism and jaundice were ailments treated by the tribal medicinal practitioners. However, the practitioners also recognized and claimed to treat successfully diseases like diabetes, cancer, and hypertension. Diabetes was treated with 9 different plants and hypertension with 5 different plants. The practitioners treated two types of cancer, namely skin cancer and throat cancer. Chittagong Hill Tracts is widely known for the existence of a diverse variety of medicinal plants, most of which are yet to be studied scientifically. It is expected that the present survey can provide insights into the ancient medicinal practices of the Chakma tribe, which in turn can lead to successful discoveries of efficacious medicines against difficult to cure diseases like cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and rheumatism.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Tribal medicine, Chakma, Rangamati, Bangladesh

Location: Rangamati district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the TMPs of the Baburo, Haduga and Larma clans of the Chakma tribe residing in Rangamati area, Bangladesh to document their use of medicinal plants for treatment of diverse ailments.

Methodology:

The present survey was carried out from June 2011 till December 2011. An initial survey was conducted among the Chakma people in the general area surrounding the town of Rangamati in Rangamati district of Bangladesh. Three Chakma clans were located in the area, namely the Baburo, Haduga and Larma clans. Each clan had one practicing TMP. Shukro Kumar Chakma belonged to the Baburo clan. He mentioned his age as 53 years old and religion to be Buddhism. Ramani Mohan Chakma, age 49 years, belonged to the Haduga clan, and he was also a Buddhist. Shanto Kaviraj belonged to the Larma clan. His age was 40 years and religion Buddhism. All three Kavirajes had been practicing at least for the last 15 years and each maintained an extensive medicinal plant garden and nursery adjacent to their homes. The three TMPs practiced, respectively, in the Bonorupa, Kanthaltoli and Rangapani area of Rangamati.

Informed consent was initially obtained from the TMPs to publish their names and any information provided both nationally as well as internationally. A consent form was signed individually by all TMPs. Actual interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method of Martin (1995) and Maundu (1995). In this method, the TMPs took the interviewers in guided field-walks through forest areas or their own medicinal plants garden from where they collected their medicinal plants, pointed out the plants, and described their uses. Plants were photographed and plant samples collected and dried and brought back to Bangladesh National Herbarium at Dhaka for proper identification. Interviews were conducted of the TMPs in Bengali, the language being spoken by the interviewers as well as the TMPs. Voucher specimens were deposited at both the Bangladesh National Herbarium and the Medicinal Plant Collection Wing of the University of Development Alternative.

Source of Information: American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 6(2): 74-84, 2012 ISSN 1995-0748

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Overall, the medicinal plants reported by the Chakma TMPs for treatment of diverse ailments merit considerable potential from the scientific community for further studies. The number of plants used by the TMPs and validated by modern scientific research as to their actual uses are several in number. They are also important in the sense that the Chakma TMPs use these plants for incurable or difficult to cure diseases by allopathic medicine like cancer, diabetes and hypertension. Thorough scientific research as to the plant’s relevant pharmacological activities can prove to be of immense benefit to patients all throughout the world if new and efficacious drugs can be discovered from the plants. Such discoveries can not only lead to novel drugs but also spur conservation efforts to save these plants, which are rapidly getting lost because of mindless destruction of forest areas through construction of human habitats and turning forest areas into cultivable lands.

Knowledge Management: Journal