Ethnobotanical Survey on Joypurhat Sadar region of Joypurhat District of Bangladesh

Abstract

The primarily rural population of Bangladesh relies on traditional medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) for treatment of their various ailments. Although in general the Kavirajes practice the Ayurvedic system of medicine, eack Kaviraj nevertheless has his own special knowledge of indigenous medicinal plants, which they use to treat patients.Rural home garden is an important traditional source of medicinal plants for daily curative uses throughout Bangladesh. Such knowledge is continuing from generation to generation without documentation. An ethnobotanical investigation was conducted through focus group discussions and households’ survey accompanied by field observation to document the indigenous knowledge of herbal medicines being used by the rural communities during October 2014 to November 2014of Joypurhat Sadar of Joypurhat district in Bangladesh. The selection of medicinal plant for the treatment of a given ailment by a Kaviraj has been found to be quite several in a number of previous ethnobotanical surveys conducted in different areas of the country.A total of 20 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 14 families were found, where trees (37.78%) were the most commonly utilized growth form. A total of 20 plants distributed was found to be used by the 6 Kavirajes & 2 nursery owners interviewed for the treatment of various ailments like heart disease , stomachic purgative, emmanogogue, antihelmentic, Acidity, Baldness,Chicken-pox, Common cough and cold, Constipation, Chronic Headache, Chronic Fever, Darkness before the Eyes, Discharge of Albumin, Dryness in the Body,Diabetes,Dysentery,Gout,Hair-Loss, High Blood Pressure, edema, haemorrhoids, rheumatism,Hysteria,Indigestion,Itching on the Body,Eruptions,Jaundice, dysentery, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, diseases of the urinary tract, respiratory diseases, Wound healing activity,Antifungal activity, antihemorrhoidal, analgesic antiosteoporotic ,Joint pains, Menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea,anti-bacterial, anti-cancer etc. Whole plants & plant parts like leaves,stems,bark,roots,fruits,flowers,seeds,tubers,gum,& rhizomes were used in various formulations.Ayurvedicinfluences were observed in the use of several plants in the Kavirajes formulations. Indigenous medicinal practice have served as an effective method towards discovery of new & efficacious drugs. From above view,the plants used by Kavirajes of Joypurhat Sadar Upazilla of Joypurhat district merit potential for further scientific studies which may lead to discovery of lead compound & novel drugs. ABSTRACT Ethnobotanical Survey on Joypurhat Sadar region of Joypurhat District of Bangladesh