An Ethno botanical survey in Ati Bazar Keranigong area in Dhaka region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Traditional source of medicinal plants is an important way for daily curative uses in rural area throughout Bangladesh. Such knowledge is continuing from generation to generation without documentation. An ethno botanical 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 of Ati bazaar region in Dhaka District in Bangladesh. Ethno botanical survey in AtiBazaar ,kranigonj of Dhaka district has revealed a total of 22 species used as medicinal plants. People names, parts used as medicine and diseases to be treated with each plant have been presented. A number of threats to medicinal plants and their habitats have been identified and some measures have also been recommended for the conservation of medicinal plants and their habitats. Plants identified by herbarium specimens brought to Bangladesh National Herbarium for complete identification. A total of 38 plants were collected out of which 22 plants were identified, which are belongs to 20 families and 18 plants remain unidentified. It was observed that the Kaviraje of the village surveyed used whole plants and plant parts like leaves, stems, barks, roots, flowers, fruits, seeds, and tubers in their treatment of various ailments. Unlike most other parts of Bangladesh, whole plants were used the most, constituting 45.45% of the total uses. This was followed by whole plant (65% )leaves (59%), roots (13.63%), seeds (4.45%), fruits (31.81%), stems and barks (13.63% each), inner bark (4.45%), and flowers (12.8%) wood .(4.45%) Plant resources are used to treat 36 different individual ailments claimed to be cured by plant or plant parts include Rheumatic pain, (2 species ) Arthritis (3 species) Uterine Irritation, Insect bite, gout, Tooth pain, Fever(7 species ), Inflammation(3 species ) ,Carries (2 species ),Asthma, Womb problem, Uterine pain, Intestinal disorder, Gastric problem, High Blood Pressure, Diarrhea, Acne, Skin disorder, Constipation, Piles , Diabetes , Jaundice.