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An Ethnoveterinary Survey of Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Cattle Diseases in Birishiri Area, Netrakona District, Bangladesh

Md. Harun-or-Rashid
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Rabiea Tanzin
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Khokon Chandra Ghosh
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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

Mst. Afsana Khatun
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Mohammed Rahmatullah
Dept. of Pharmacy, Lincoln College, Mayang Plaza, Block A, No 1, Jalan SS 26/2, Taman Mayang Jaya, 47301, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Cattle (cows, goats, buffaloes) are reared in the rural areas of Bangladesh mainly to serve three purposes – to obtain milk and meat (for local consumption as well as supply to the cities), for cultivation (ploughing fields with cows or buffaloes is still practiced in the country), and as a source of dung (which is used both as fuel and fertilizer). Because of either lack of access to modern veterinary facilities or because of the high prices of medicines, most farmers rely on traditional healers for treatment of cattle diseases, who in general, rely on the administration of medicinal plants for the treatment of cattle ailments. An ethnoveterinary survey was conducted among the traditional healers of cattle diseases in Birishiri area, Netrakona district, Bangladesh. An initial survey was carried out among the farmers to identify the traditional healers. Information on medicinal plants was obtained from the healers with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and through open-ended interviews and guided dialogue techniques. A guided field-walk method was followed where the healers showed plants used by them to the interviewers and described their uses. All plant specimens as pointed out by the healers were collected and identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. A total of 42 plants distributed into 28 families were obtained in the present survey. Leaves constituted the major plant part used (34.1%), followed by barks (15.9%) and whole plant (13.6%). Eight plants were used to treat fever, six plants to treat meningitis, five plants to treat diarrhea or dysentery, and three plants to treat helminthiasis. Besides body aches, these diseases appeared to be the major ailments affecting cattle in the Birishiri area. The route of administration was primarily oral followed by topical applications. The farmers used the remedies prescribed by the healers not only because they offered a cheaper alternative to modern pharmaceuticals, but also they thought the traditional remedies to be more efficacious.

Keywords: Ethnoveterinary, Medicinal plants, Netrakona, Bangladesh

Location: Birishiri area, Netrakona district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Medicinal Plants, Cattle, Diseases

Objectives:

The ethnoveterinary practices in Bangladesh remains to be documented. This poses serious concerns because traditional cattle healing knowledge is passed on within the healer’s immediate family from generation to generation, and the newer generations are fast losing interest in the traditional ways and practices. It was the objective of the present study to document the uses of medicinal plants for treatment of cattle diseases in the Birishiri area of Netrakona district, Bangladesh.

Methodology:

An initial survey was carried out among the farmers of Birishiri area to identify the traditional healers. Information on medicinal plants was obtained from the healers with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and through open-ended interviews and guided dialogue techniques. Cattle ailments and symptoms as described by the healers were properly identified with the help of a trained veterinarian, who accompanied the interviewers throughout the present survey. A guided field-walk method was followed where the healers showed plants used by them to the interviewers and described their uses. All plant specimens as pointed out by the healers were collected and identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium.

Source of Information: Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 4(1): 10-13, 2010 ISSN 1995-0748

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Overall, our survey indicates that the traditional cattle healers of Birishiri use quite different variety of plant species to treat cattle ailments. Thus our findings present considerable potential for further scientific research on these plant species, which can lead to development of cheaper and more efficacious drugs. Cattle farmers do not always avoid modern veterinary drugs because of their higher prices or lack of accessibility; they often do so because in their actual observations they have found that use of medicinal plants for treatment of certain cattle ailments can provide better efficacy (Luseba, D. and D. Van der Merwe, 2006). Modern research has also started to validate at least some of the veterinary uses of medicinal plants (Farooq, Z., 2008). It is therefore of utmost importance to document ethnoveterinary findings from all parts of the world, including Bangladesh before the knowledge disappears either because of endangerment of plants in the wild or because of the loss of knowledge among the newer generation of traditional healers due to loss of interest.

Knowledge Management: Journal