e-ISSN 2231-8542
ISSN 1511-3701
Sajib, N. H. and Uddin, S. B.
Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, Volume 38, Issue 2, May 2015
Keywords: Medicinal plants, Ethnobotany, Hathazari, Bangladesh.
Published on:
An ethnomedicinal survey of the rural community, mainly Chakma from Hathazari, Bangladesh, was conducted from May 2010 to January 2013. The methods used for ethnomedicinal data collection were field interviews, plant interview and group interview techniques. Local (Bangla) names, habit, parts used, mode of preparation and medicinal uses of plants were recorded by interviewing the locals of different age groups (mostly between 25 to 75 years) and also herbal practitioners (Kabiraj). A total of 75 plant species consisting of 67 genera categorised under 44 families were documented for the treatment of 35 ailments. Among the total documented species were herbs (41%), shrubs (19%), trees (28%) and climbers (12%). The most encountered medicinal plant families are Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, Liliaceae, Malvaceae, Combretaceae and Amaranthaceae. Analysis of the parts used showed that leaves are mostly used in majority of medicinal plants, followed by roots, fruit, stems, bark, rhizome, flowers, bulbs, seeds, thorns and latex. The most common preparations include juice, paste and extract. The present investigation was the first attempt undertaken in Hathazari to document the traditional uses of plants for the treatment of different ailments. This study also recorded new ethnomedicinal information. It can be concluded that data collected in the present study will be useful for any future ethno-pharmacological research for the discovery of new drugs.
ISSN 1511-3701
e-ISSN 2231-8542