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Ethnomedicinal Plants of Rakhain Tribal Communities of Two Areas of Patuakhali District, Bangladesh

Arpon Chakraborty Joy
Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, House 73, Road 5A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Promit Das
Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, House 73, Road 5A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Zasharatul Islam
Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, House 73, Road 5A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Rubaiya Jahan Priya
Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, House 73, Road 5A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Neaz Pervez
Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, House 73, Road 5A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Imtiuz Hossain Nahid
Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, House 73, Road 5A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Rifat Ara Islam
Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, House 73, Road 5A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mohammed Rahmatullah
Department of Pharmacy, University of Development Alternative, House 78, Road 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The Rakhain tribe came to Bangladesh from Myanmar and settled in various parts of Patuakhali district, Bangladesh around 1780. Various communities of the tribe are now residing in Patuakhali as well as the districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts region of the country. The communities have their own tribal medicinal practitioners (TMPs). In a preliminary survey, it was observed that TMPs of various scattered communities of the Rakhain tribe in Patuakhali district differ in their selection of medicinal plants and diseases treated. To get comprehensive documentation of the medicinal plant knowledge of the Rakhain tribe, the objective of this study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among three TMPs of two Rakhain communities in Patuakhali district. It was observed that the three TMPs used a total of 15 plants distributed into 12 families in their medicinal formulations. These formulations were used to treat gout, anemia, asthma, fever, pain, weakness, dizziness, typhoid, coughs, gastrointestinal disorders, chicken pox, skin disorders, diabetes, malaria, hypertension, arthritis, measles, aging, jaundice, urinary disorders, and rhinitis. One noteworthy feature of the treatments was that the TMPs used different plant parts from the same plant to treat different diseases, thus demonstrating a good knowledge of medicinal plants. This knowledge can be utilized by researchers to possibly discover new and better drugs against diseases like diabetes, malaria, hypertension, gout and arthritis.

Keywords: Rakhain, Tribal medicine, Ethnomedicine, Medicinal plants

Location: Patuakhali 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 document the ethnomedicinal practices of three Rakhain TMPs of Boultali, Kalapara and Aamkhola Para, Golachipa in Patuakhali district.

Methodology:

Boultali had two Rakhain TMPs, namely Ong Chaung Ching, age 60 years, and Thoyla, age 81 years. Aamkhola Para had one practicing Rakhain TMP, namely Ughuchaita Mahathero, age 52 years. All three TMPs were male. Prior Informed Consent was first obtained from all three TMPs. They were explained as to the nature of our visit and consent obtained to disseminate any information obtained both nationally and internationally. After a period of initial hesitation, a sense of mutual trust and confidence was built between the TMPs and the interviewers and consent obtained to interview them and gather information. Interviews were conducted during the middle of 2014 in Bengali language, which was spoken by both the TMPs as well as the interviewers. Actual interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided filed-walk method of Martin and Maundu. In this method, the TMPs took the interviewers on guided field-walks through areas from where they collected their medicinal plants, pointed out the plants, and described their uses. Plant specimens were photographed, collected, pressed and dried and brought to Dhaka, where they were identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium.

Source of Information: Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2014, 6(11):550-555

Article Link (Online Journal): Available online www.jocpr.com

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

A review of the scientific literature thus shows that a number of plants used by the TMPs against various diseases are validated on the reported pharmacological properties of the plants. Indigenous medicinal plants have always formed a good source for obtaining new drugs. The pharmacological studies indicate that not only the Rakhain TMPs are knowledgeable on the use of medicinal plants, but also that the plants merit further scientific studies towards discovery of possibly more efficacious drugs. The present study also confirms the necessity for further documentation of the indigenous uses of medicinal plants in Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal