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

Ethnomedicinal Plants of Folk Medicinal Practitioners in Four Villages of Natore and Rajshahi Districts, Bangladesh

Fariste Mawla
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Safiyah Khatoon
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Fatema Rehana
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Sharmin Jahan
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

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

Sophia Hossain
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Wahid Mozammel Haq
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

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

Kallol Debnath
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

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

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An ethnomedicinal survey was carried out among folk medicinal practitioners of four villages in Natore and Rajshahi districts of Bangladesh. The four folk medicinal practitioners interviewed were observed to use a total of 89 plants in their different formulations. These plant species were distributed into 48 families. The practitioners treated a diverse variety of ailments including skin disorders, respiratory tract disorders, ear infections, gastrointestinal disorders, hypertension, sexual problems, menorrhagia, pain, eye problems, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary problems, fever, paralysis, cuts and wounds, chicken pox, weakness, kidney problems, jaundice, broken bones, and hepatitis B. Plants were also used as moisturizer, for relaxing uterine muscle, for treatment of snake bite, and as snake repellent. By far, from the number of plants used, the major problems of the village communities surveyed appeared to be skin disorders, respiratory tract disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, sexual problems, pain, and diabetes. Seven plants were used for treatment of diabetes. Plants used for treatment of diabetes (Stevia rebaudiana, Cycas pectinata, Diospyros ebenum, Cinnamomum tamala, Asparagus racemosus, Tinospora cordifolia, and Corchorus aestuans) are particularly interesting for further pharmacological studies, for diabetes is a debilitating disease affecting millions of persons throughout the world, and cannot be cured with allopathic medicine. As such, any drugs that can be discovered from the anti-diabetic plants obtained in the present survey can possibly alleviate the sufferings of millions of diabetic patients and can be really beneficial for human beings. The plants used for treatment of osteoporosis, hepatitis B, and arthritis are also interesting for further studies. These plants can provide a cheaper alternative to the existing allopathic drugs and which may be more affordable to the rural people of Bangladesh, who lack both access to modern clinics as well as cannot afford the prices of allopathic drugs.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Ethnomedicine, Natore, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Location: Four villages of Natore and Rajshahi districts, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

Towards a fuller documentation of the traditional medicinal plants of the Kavirajes, the objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes of four villages in Natore and Rajshahi districts of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The present survey was carried out in Lokkhipur and Duttapara villages of Natore district, and Bohrompur and Kazihata Mor villages of Rajshahi district. The village population in these four areas was respectively, 1800, 1300, 7500 and 5000. Each village had one practicing Kaviraj, their names being, respectively, Md. Abdul Barik, Afaz Pagla, Shah Mohammed, and Alhaj Golam Hasib Sarwar. The ages of these Kavirajes were, respectively, 63, 52, 47 and 58. The last Kaviraj mentioned had his own medicinal plant garden where there was an extensive collection of medicinal plants.

Informed consent was first obtained from all four Kavirajes. The Kavirajes was explained as to the nature of our visit, and consent was obtained to publish any information provided both nationally and internationally. Interviews of the Kavirajes were conducted in Bengali, which was the language spoken by both the Kavirajes and the interviewers alike. 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 Kavirajes 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 on the spot, collected, dried, and brought to Bangladesh National Herbarium at Dhaka for complete identification.

Source of Information: Am. Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 6(4): 406-416, 2012

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The antihyperglycemic activity of Asparagus racemosus roots has been shown to be partly mediated by inhibition of carbohydrate digestion and absorption, and enhancement of cellular insulin action (Hannan et al., 2011). In perfused pancreas, isolated islets, and clonal pancreatic beta-cells, insulin secretory actions of extracts of roots of the plant have been demonstrated (Hannan et al., 2007). Anti-oxidant effect of Tinospora cordifolia extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats has been shown. The hypoglycemic activity of alkaloidal fraction of the plant has been demonstrated (Patel and Mishra, 2011). The plant has also been shown to attenuate oxidative stress and distorted carbohydrate metabolism in experimentally induced type 2 diabetes in rats. Notably, oxidative stress is a major factor in diabetes-induced complications.

The available scientific literature validates the use of at least several plants used by the Kavirajes for treatment of diabetes. Similar validation can be seen for other plants also. For instance, Justicia adhatoda, used by the Kavirajes for treatment of coughs and colds, has been shown to shown scientifically to have anti-tussive action (Dhuley, 1999). It is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss all relevant scientific literature attesting to the validity of the plants used by the Kavirajes. Nevertheless, it is clear that a number of plants used by the Kavirajes have been validated scientifically and other plants possess potential to be newer sources of better medicines. It would be interesting to also scientifically examine the plants, more so the plants used by the Kavirajes to treat hepatitis B, osteoporosis, and arthritis.

Knowledge Management: Journal