Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

A Survey of Medicinal Plant Usage by Folk Medicinal Practitioners in Seven Villages of Ishwardi Upazilla, Pabna District, Bangladesh

Mohammad Mehedi Hasan
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mst. Eashmat Ara Annay
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mariz Sintaha
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Himel Nahreen Khaleque
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Farjana Akther Noor
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Aynun Nahar
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Syeda Seraj
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Rownak Jahan
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Majeedul H. Chowdhury
Present address: New York City College of Technology The City University of New York 300 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA

Mohammed Rahmatullah
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) are the primary health-care providers to substantial segments of the rural population as well as the urban population of Bangladesh. Every village of Bangladesh has at least one practicing Kaviraj. The Kavirajes rely primarily on simple formulations of medicinal plants for treatment of ailments. While overall, simple ailments are treated by the Kavirajes, occasionally complicated ailments, which are hard to cure with allopathic medicine, are also treated by them. In previous ethnomedicinal surveys, we have observed considerable variation in the use of medicinal plants by the Kavirajes of different regions of Bangladesh, which extended to Kavirajes of even the same village or adjoining villages. To get a comprehensive picture of the medicinal plants used by the Kavirajes, it is therefore necessary to conduct surveys of individual villages. The objective of the present study was to conduct a survey among Kavirajes of seven villages in Ishwardi Upazilla (sub-district), which is in Pabna district of Bangladesh. A total of 80 plants distributed into 45 families were observed to be used by the Kavirajes. The Euphorbiaceae and the the Lamiaceae family contributed 7 plants per family, followed by the Apocynaceae family with 5 plants, and the Araceae, Asteraceae, Combretaceae, Menispermaceae, and Solanaceae family with 3 plants each. The Kavirajes used both whole plant as well as plant parts for treatment of ailments. Leaves constituted 35.1% of the total uses, followed by roots at 17.5%, and barks and fruits at 11.4% each. Twenty one plants were used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders like constipation, dysentery, loss of appetite, and acidity. Thirteen plants were used to treat skin disorders like eczema, pimples, and itches, while twelve plants were used for treatment of respiratory tract disorders like asthma, coughs, and colds. The Kavirajes also treated hepatic disorders (e.g. jaundice), sexual disorders, pain, fever, bleeding from cuts and wounds, bone fractures, eye disorders, ear problems, toothache, loss of hair, hemorrhoids, gonorrhea, infections, physical weakness, helminthiasis, leprosy, vomiting, snake bite, gall bladder stones, burns, chicken pox, malaria, rheumatic fever, diphtheria, anemia, rheumatism, menstrual problems, urinary problems, and physical weakness. Other complicated diseases treated by the Kavirajes, included diabetes, hypertension, heart disorders, tumors, malnutrition of fetus, and leukemia. The medicinal plants used by the Kavirajes can form a rich source of plants for further scientific studies leading to discovery of novel therapeutic compounds.

Keywords: Folk medicine, Medicinal plants, Ishwardi, Bangladesh

Location: Seven Villages of Ishwardi Upazilla, Pabna District, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

Towards an attempt to survey the Kavirajes of various villages of Bangladesh and thus to obtain a greater understanding of the medicinal plants used and the ailments treated, the objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes of seven villages in Ishwardi Upazilla (sub-district) in Pabna district, Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The present survey was conducted among eight Kavirajes practicing in seven villages of Ishwardi Upazilla in Pabna district of Bangladesh. Pabna district is in the west-central part of the country, and Ishwardi Upazilla is a major sub-district of Pabna. The various Kavirajes interviewed were Md. Aftabul Islam from Pakshi village, Hamid Mondol from Muladuli village, Md. Kolom Molla from Ramchandrapur village, Moyez Mondol from Dasuria village, Md. Aminul Islam from Boroichora village, Rawshan Ara Khatun from Silimpur village, and Rahela Khatun and Monowara Khatun from Char Mirkamari village. The latter three Kavirajes were female, while the first five were males.

Informed consent was obtained from each Kaviraj prior to the interview. The Kavirajes were explained as to the purpose of the visit and consent obtained for dissemination of the information collected from each Kaviraj. The Kavirajes had no objections to providing the names of plants and the ailments that were used for treatment. Interviews were conducted in the Bengali language, the language being spoken by both Kavirajes and the interviewers. Actual interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method as described by Martin (1995) and Maundu (1995). In this method, the Kavirajes took the interviewers on day-time field walks through the areas from where they collected the medicinal plants, pointed out the plants and mentioned the local names of the plants along with describing their uses. All information was cross-checked with the Kavirajes in later evening sessions. Plant specimens were collected and dried in the field and later brought back to Dhaka for complete identification at the Bangladesh National Herbarium.

Source of Information: American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, C: CC-CC, 2010 ISSN 1995-0748

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Overall, the scientific reports when available as to the plants used by the Kavirajes of the present survey area have validated the traditional uses of these plants. It is reasonable to expect that since the medicinal plants have a long history of usage by the Kavirajes, they will also be validated in their traditional uses when the relevant scientific experiments on their pharmacological activities are performed. The plants, as such, can potentially be valuable sources of newer and more efficacious drugs.

Knowledge Management: Journal