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An Ethnomedicinal Survey of Medicinal Plants Used as Food Supplements by the Chakma Tribe of Bandarban District, Bangladesh

Mohammed Rahmatullah
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Abu Hanif
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Md. Shahadat Hossan
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Md. Ariful Haque Mollik
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Taufiq Rahman
Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 1PD, Cambridge, UK.

Majeedul H. Chowdhury
New York City College of Technology, The City University of New York, Broooklyn, NY 11201, USA

Rownak Jahan
Department of Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Medicinal plants serve as food supplements and provide essential nutrients to the body in addition to their use as prophylactic and curative measures for some diseases. We conducted a survey among the traditional healers of the Chakma tribe, which is the largest tribe in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region in the southeast part of Bangladesh with the objective of obtaining information on plants, which can serve as food supplements. Information was obtained from the traditional healers with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-work method. It was observed that several medicinal plants or plant parts are used as food supplements by the tribe. The plants included Aegle marmelos, Coccinia grandis, Hyptis suaveolens, Mangifera longipes, Nymphaea nouchali, Terminalia chebula, and Syzygium cumini. The plants serve as food supplements and plant parts can be taken on a regular basis for treatment and prevention of several diseases.

Keywords: Ethnopharmacology, Chakma tribe, Bangladesh, Medicinal plants, Food supplements

Location: Bandarban District, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants, Food

Objectives:

The criteria for selecting a medicinal plant as food supplement were edibility, nutritive value (i.e. whether the plant has been reported to be a good source of macro- as well as micro-nutrients), whether the plant or plant part is used directly as food or supplemental food by the Chakmas as well as in other regions of Bangladesh, reports of pharmacological activities in plants or plant parts, and finally whether any toxic reports are present on consuming the plant for short-term or extended time periods.

Methodology:

Area of survey Surveys were conducted amongst the Chakma tribal healers residing in Gundum, Tombru and Naikhongchhari villages in the Bandarban district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh from January 2008 till February 2009. There are Chakma settlements in all the three villages o o o o mentioned above. Bandarban district falls roughly between 92 10' – 92 40' E and 21 20' – 22 20' N and has an area of 4479 square kilometers. The district consists mostly of forests and hills. Annual o o average temperature ranges from a minimum of 13 C to a maximum of 34.6 C. Annual rainfall is in the range of 303 centimeters. The Chakmas form the largest tribe amongst the various tribal groups residing within the district. The main agricultural crops of the district are paddy, mustard, and vegetables while the main fruits cultivated are bananas, pineapples, jack-fruits, oranges and papayas.

Mode of information collection Informed consent was obtained from the Chakma healers prior to collection of any data. Interviews were conducted in the Chakma language with the help of an interpreter. Two healers were interviewed at Tombru and one each at Gundum and Naikhongchaari. At their request, the two uest of healers of Gundum were interviewed together. A semi-structured questionnaire was used during the interview process. The basic method followed was that of the guided field-walk as described by Martin (10) and Maundu (11). Information was obtained from the healers during field-walks where the informant pointed out plant species and described their medicinal as well as any other uses. Information was obtained on the plant parts used, formulations, dosages, side-effects if any and when appropriate, whether the plant species was included in the diet for preventive or curative properties. At the request of the Chakma healers, formulations, dosage and side-effects data are not included in the paper for they requested confidentiality on these data on grounds that dissemination of these data would be detrimental to their professional practices. The healers, however, had no objections to publishing the data on medicinal plant species, their medicinal uses and whether they are used as functional foods, i.e. food supplements. Agreement was reached that any financial benefit accruing from the publication would be handed over to the healers to be spent for the general welfare of the communities.

Plant specimens were photographed as well as collected, pressed and dried in the field. Plant specimens were identified by Mr. Manzur-ul Kadir Miah (plant taxonomist at the Bangladesh National Herbarium, since retired).

Source of Information: Journal Of Phytomedicine And Therapeutics (JOPAT) 14, 2009; 7 - 16

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Overall, a pharmacological and nutritive evaluation of plants used by the Chakma tribe indicates that the seven plants (or plant parts) reported in the present study has good potential both as food supplements and be of use medicinally. Thus they can play the role of functional foods. Various plant parts like fruits, seeds and stems are edible and are eaten on a regular basis by the tribal people when in season without any known ill effects. Since modern medical facilities are out of reach from a substantial section of the population of the country, regular use of the above plants by the general population as food supplements can serve both preventive and curative purposes. This should also reduce the cost of health care, which a majority of the population can ill afford with incomes at or below 1 US$ per day. The present study is expected to generate enough interest towards more effective conservation, cultivation and consumption of the seven plants described in the study.

Knowledge Management: Journal