A survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal practitioners in two villages of Tangail district, Bangladesh

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1 American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 4(3): , 2010 ISSN This is a refereed journal and all articles are professionally screened and reviewed 357 ORIGINAL ARTICLES A survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal practitioners in two villages of Tangail district, Bangladesh 1 Mohammed Rahmatullah, 1 Md. Ariful Haque Mollik, 1 Md. Nasir Ahmed, 1 Md. Zobaer Ahmed Bhuiyan, 1 Md. Maruf Hossain, 1 Md. Nur Kabidul Azam, 1 Syeda Seraj, 2 Majeedul H. Chowdhury, 1 Farhana Jamal, 1 Shamima Ahsan, 1 Rownak Jahan 1 Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2 Present address: New York City College of Technology The City University of New York 300 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA. Mohammed Rahmatullah, Md. Ariful Haque Mollik, Md. Nasir Ahmed, Md. Zobaer Ahmed Bhuiyan, Md. Maruf Hossain, Md. Nur Kabidul Azam, Syeda Seraj, Majeedul H. Chowdhury, Farhana Jamal, Shamima Ahsan, Rownak Jahan; A survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal practitioners in two villages of Tangail district, Bangladesh ABSTRACT Folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) of Bangladesh are consulted for treatment of various ailments by a substantial segment of the rural and urban population of the country. The major element that distinguishes the folk medicinal practitioners from other forms of medical practices is their use of simple formulations of medicinal plants for treatment. The plant(s) used by the Kavirajes for treatment of any specific ailment vary considerably in the various parts of the country, and such differences exist even among Kavirajes of adjoining villages. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes of two villages, namely Babla and Terbaria, which lies in Tangail district in the central portion of the country. Each village had one practicing Kaviraj. After obtaining informed consent from the Kavirajes, interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. It was observed that the Kavirajes of the two villages used a total of 28 plants distributed into 22 families for treatment of various ailments. Leaves constituted the major plant part used, being used 48.7% of the time. From the number of plants used, it appeared that gastrointestinal tract disorders formed the major complaint of the patients with 5 plants used for treatment of various complaints like constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, and loss of appetite. Four plants each were used for treatment of pain, and skin disorders (scabies, eczema), and as blood purifier. Four plants were used for treatment of diseases in cattle. Among other ailments treated by the Kavirajes were tuberculosis, sexual disorders, urinary problems, infections, fever, hepatic disorders, kidney problems, pneumonia, stomach stones, diabetes, swellings, debility, helminthiasis, hypertension, vitamin C deficiency, tumor, and poisoning. One plant was used to maintain the body in good health and so served as a preventive measure instead of a curative effect. Since a number of allopathic medicines have been derived from medicinal plants, the plants reported in the present survey can, following scientific inquiry, form novel sources of newer drugs. Key words: Folk medicine, medicinal plants, Tangail, Bangladesh Corresponding Author: Professor Dr. Mohammed Rahmatullah, Pro-Vice Chancellor University of Development Alternative House No. 78, Road No. 11A (new) Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1205 Bangladesh rahamatm@hotmail.com Fax:

2 358 Introduction Traditional medicinal practices, even in these days of allopathic medicine, form a major form of healthcare provision in many countries of the world, including Bangladesh. Folk medicinal practitioners, otherwise known as Kavirajes cater to a substantial number of both rural and urban populations of the country. Folk medicinal practices have been present in Bangladesh from time immemorial and the Kavirajes have a number of adherents as patients, who still do not accept allopathic medicinal treatment. The diversity of patients among the Kavirajes, who although poor in general, but also comprise of members from the affluent class, testifies to the popularity and efficacy of folk medicinal practices. In fact, Kavirajes form the last resort for many patients in Bangladesh, whose ailments could not be successfully treated with allopathic medicine. The Kavirajes, as a whole, use medicinal plants or plants parts to form simple formulations, which they apply for treatment. Usually such formulations consist of maceration or crushing of whole plant or plant parts to obtain juices, which may then be administered orally or topically depending on the ailment treated. A plant may be used to treat multiple ailments of a diverse nature. On rare occasions, a plant may be administered in the cooked form. When administered orally, the juice or the crushed plant may be prescribed with sugar, molasses or salt to make it more palatable to the patient. When administered topically, a plant part may be mixed with oil (usually mustard oil) to make the formulation more even and easily applicable. Although done comparatively on a smaller scale, there are instances where a combination of plants or plant parts is used. Usually such combinations reflect synergistic action on the treatment process by the combination. Combination of plants may also take place if the main plant used for treatment has side-effects and another plant is added to counteract the side effects. Bangladesh has over 86,000 villages with each village having one or more practicing Kavirajes. The villagers have for centuries been treated by the Kavirajes, who usually occupy a special position among the villagers and are consulted for treatment of both humans and cattle. Each Kaviraj has his or her own unique repertoire of medicinal plants, the knowledge of which is closely guarded and usually passed onto a successive generation of the family, who has decided to take on the medicinal practice. An individual Kaviraj also experiments with new species of plants, which if found to be successful in its use, is added to the repertoire of medicinal plants of the Kaviraj. Thus, over time, considerable differences arise between the selections of medicinal plants between Kavirajes of even adjoining villages, despite the presence of similar medicinal plant species in both localities. Bangladesh has over 5,000 floral species. To get a comprehensive picture of the flora of Bangladesh, which can be classified as medicinal plants, one therefore has to practically conduct surveys among Kavirajes of individual villages and the tribes; virtually each tribe of Bangladesh also has their own tribal medicinal practitioners, who among other things, also rely on medicinal plants for treatment of various ailments. We had been conducting ethnomedicinal surveys among the Kavirajes (who belong to the mainstream population) and the tribal medicinal practitioners for a number of years. Our surveys have confirmed the differences in use of medicinal plants by Kavirajes as well as tribal medicinal practitioners (Hossan, M.S., 2010; Rahmatullah, M., 2010; Nawaz, A.H.M.M., 2009; Hanif, A., 2009; Hossan, Md. Shahadat, 2009; Rahmatullah, M., 2009; Rahmatullah, M., 2009; Rahmatullah, M., 2009; Rahmatullah, M., 2009; Rahmatullah, M., 2009; Rahmatullah, M., 2009). To obtain a greater perspective on the medicinal plants of Tangail district, which lies in the central part of Bangladesh, the present survey was conducted among the Kavirajes of two villages of the district. The two villages, namely Babla and Terbaria, fall respectively, in two different Upazillas (sub-districts) of Tangail district, namely Kalihati and Bhuapur. Materials and Methods The survey was conducted in two villages of Tangail district, namely Babla and Terbaria. The villages, respectively, fall in two sub-districts of Tangail Kalihati and Bhuapur. Tangail district is in the central part of Bangladesh. The main occupation of the villagers of the two villages surveyed is agriculture. Each village surveyed had its own practicing Kaviraj. Kaviraj Md. Samad Mondol practiced in Babla village, while Kaviraj Md. Anwar Hossain practiced in Terbaria village. Informed consent was obtained from both Kavirajes prior to the survey. Interviews were conducted in Bengali, the language spoken by both Kavirajes and the interviewers. Ethnobotanical methods like semistructured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method as described by Martin (1995) and Maundu (1995) were employed during the survey process. In the guided field-walk method, the Kavirajes took the interviewers during daytime to places from where they collected their medicinal plants, pointed out the plants, and gave an account of their local names and uses. All information obtained was cross-checked with the Kavirajes in later evening sessions. Plant specimens were photographed and collected on the spot. They were dried in the

3 359 field and brought back to Dhaka for complete identification. Plant identifications were done by Mr. Manjur-ul- Kadir Mia, former Curator and Principal Scientific Officer of the Bangladesh National Herbarium. Voucher specimens were deposited with the Medicinal Plant Collection Wing of the University of Development Alternative. Results and Discussion The Kavirajes of the two villages surveyed used 28 plants distributed into 22 families for treatment of various ailments. The results are shown in Table 1. The Amaranthaceae family contributed the highest number of plant species (three). The Kavirajes of the two villages surveyed differed considerably as to selection of plant parts in their formulations. Leaves constituted the major plant part used (48.7%), followed by fruits (17.9%) and stems (12.8%). Roots, whole plants, and rhizomes constituted 10.3%, 5.1%, and 2.6%, respectively, of total uses. The wood from trunk of the plant was used 2.6% of the time. Surprisingly, barks, seeds, flowers, and gum were not at all used by the Kavirajes. Table 1: Medicinal plants used by the Kavirajes of Babla and Terbaria villages in Tangail district. Serial Scientific Name Family Name Local Name Part utilized Ailment/Symptoms treated Number 1 Justicia adhatoda L. Acanthaceae Kalo durba Stem Tuberculosis. Stems are soaked in water and taken with sugar. 2 Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae Udvid nagra Leaf, root Wet dreams, constipation, burning sensations during urination. Juice from macerated leaves is taken as treatment of wet dreams. Macerated roots are taken for constipation. Roots are taken with cold water for burning sensations during urination. 3 Alternanthera Amaranthaceae Chenchi shak Leaf Infections (used as antiseptic), scabies, sessilis (L.) DC eczema. Macerated leaves are applied and taken. 4 Amaranthus Amaranthaceae Khuira kanta Leaf, stem Jaundice. Leaves and stems are fried and spinosus L. eaten. 5 Centella asiatica Apiaceae Thankuni Leaf Fever, pain. Juice from macerated leaves (L.) Urb. is taken. 6 Alstonia scholaris Apocynaceae Chaitan Leaf, wood Restlessness in cows. A piece of wood (L.) R.Br. is tied to the hoof. Kidney and hepatic problems. Juice from a mixture of macerated leaves of Smilax china and Alstonia scholaris is taken. 7 Calotropis gigantea Asclepiadaceae Akondo Leaf Pneumonia, severe pain. Leaves are taken (L.) Ait.f. during pneumonia. Leaves are warmed in oil and applied to painful areas. 8 Ageratum Asteraceae Shial moti Leaf To expedite delivery in cows. Leaf juice conyzoides L. is orally administered. 9 Xanthium indicum J. Asteraceae Ghagra kanta Leaf Skin diseases. Juice obtained from Koenig ex Roxb. macerated leaves is simultaneously orally taken and topically applied to affected areas. 10 Opuntia dillenii Cactaceae Moni raaj Whole plant To maintain the body in good health. (Ker-Gawl.) Haw. Juice from macerated whole plant is taken. 11 Kalanchoe pinnata Crassulaceae Pathorkuchi Whole plant Stone formation in stomach. Juice from (Lam.) Pers. macerated whole plant is taken. 12 Coccinia grandis Cucurbitaceae Telakuchi Leaf, root, fruit Diabetes, swellings. Macerated roots are (L.) J. Voigt taken for diabetes. Macerated leaves are massaged onto swellings. Diarrhea, blood purifier, loss of appetite, indigestion. Stems of Leucas aspera are mixed with leaves of Azadirachta indica and leaves and fruits of Coccinia cordifolia and taken. 13 Cyperus rotundus L. Cyperaceae Vadal Stem Pain. Juice from macerated stem is taken. 14 Dioscorea bulbifera L. Dioscoreaceae Goiza alu Fruit To increase strength. Boiled fruits are eaten. 15 Euphorbia tirucalli L. Euphorbiaceae Dudh kora Leaf, stem To increase milk production in cows. Leaves and stems are fed to cows.

4 360 Table 1: Continue 16 Clerodendrum Lamiaceae Vita Leaf Pain in body, blood purifier. Leaves are viscosum Vent. taken. 17 Leucas aspera Lamiaceae Dondo kolosh Stem Diarrhea, blood purifier, loss of appetite, (Willd.) Link indigestion. Stems of Leucas aspera are mixed with leaves of Azadirachta indica and leaves and fruits of Coccinia cordifolia and taken. 18 Azadirachta Meliaceae Neem Leaf Diarrhea, blood purifier, loss of appetite, indica A. Juss. indigestion. Stems of Leucas aspera are mixed with leaves of Azadirachta indica and leaves and fruits of Coccinia cordifolia and taken. 19 Psidium guajava L. Myrtaceae Piyara Leaf, fruit Diarrhea, debility. Juice obtained from macerated leaves is taken for diarrhea. Fruits are taken during debility to increase strength. 20 Syzygium malaccense Myrtaceae Jamrul Root Helminthiasis. Macerated roots are taken. (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry 21 Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Rhamnaceae Boroi Leaf, fruit Hypertension. Leaves and fruits are taken. 22 Citrus acida Roxb. Rutaceae Lebu Leaf, fruit Facial scars and spots, vitamin C deficiency. Macerated leaves are applied to facial scars and spots. Fruits are taken for vitamin C. 23 Scoparia dulcis L. Scrophulariaceae Korat chini Leaf, root Urinary problems. Leaves are chewed along with taking of macerated roots. 24 Smilax china L. Smilacaceae Kumira kanta Leaf Kidney and hepatic problems. Juice from a mixture of macerated leaves of Smilax china and Alstonia scholaris is taken. 25 Datura metel L. Solanaceae Kalo dhutura Leaf, juice from Antidote to poisoning. Macerated leaves the stalk of fruit are taken with juice from stalk of fruits. 26 Solanum surattense Solanaceae Choroi baegun Fruit Tumor in humans, swelling of throat in Burm.f. cattle. Macerated fruits are taken. Note that a small number of fruits should be taken, otherwise serious side-effects will develop. 27 Nyctanthes arbor Verbenaceae Sheuli Leaf Pitto jor (fever due to metabolic tristis L. imbalances in the body), fever. Leaves are boiled in water and taken for pitto jor. Macerated leaves are taken for fever. 28 Curcuma longa L. Zingiberaceae Holud Rhizome Wet dream, scabies, eczema. Rhizomes are taken in the raw state as treatment for wet dreams. Macerated rhizome is applied to scabies and eczemas. In their formulations, the Kavirajes were observed to use both a single plant part as well as a combination of plant parts for treatment of a given ailment. The stems of Justicia adhatoda were used for treatment of tuberculosis. On the other hand, a combination of leaves and stems of Amaranthus spinosus was used by the Kavirajes for treatment of jaundice. A single plant part may be used for treatment of diverse ailments. As an instance, the leaves of Calotropis gigantea were used for treatment of pneumonia, as well as severe pain. Multiple plant parts from the same plant may also be used for treatment of multiple ailments. The leaves and fruits of Psidium guajava were used for treatment of diarrhea and debility, respectively. In this case, the leaves were used to treat diarrhea, while the fruits were used to treat debility. The number of plants used for treatment of any ailment or disorder generally indicates the prevalence of the disorder or ailment among the population treated. From that view point, gastrointestinal disorders like constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, and loss of appetite were the most common disorders among the population of the two villages surveyed. A total of five plants were used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Four plants each were used for treatment of pain and skin disorders (scabies, eczema). Four plants were also used as blood purifier. In our various ethnomedicinal surveys throughout Bangladesh, we have noticed that the Kavirajes attribute considerable importance to what they term purification of blood. In their opinion, blood, over time, accumulates toxins through ingestion of food or through exposure to various environmental factors. Such blood, if not purified, can cause different ailments to occur. As such, the blood must be purified through ingestion of various plants or plant parts. The leaves of Clerodendrum viscosum were prescribed by the Kavirajes to be taken orally for blood purification. The Kavirajes furthermore believed that some ailments, by themselves, can also result in accumulation of toxin in the blood. Blood purification, was therefore considered a necessary measure for elimination of such ailments and to cure the patient fully.

5 361 The Kavirajes were aware of and used several plants for treatment of ailments, which are hard to cure or incurable with modern medicine. Such ailments include kidney disorders, hepatic problems, diabetes, hypertension, and tumors. The Kavirajes used two plants for treatment of kidney problems, three plants for hepatic problems, and one plant each for diabetes, hypertension, and tumors, respectively. One plant used by the Kavirajes, namely Opuntia dillenii, was used more as a preventive measure, i.e. to keep the body in good health, rather than as a curative measure. Only in two instances, we observed that the Kavirajes were using multiple plant combinations for treatment of ailments. Juice from macerated leaves of Smilax china and Alstonia scholaris was adminsitered orally for kidney or hepatic disorders. Stems of Leucas aspera were mixed with leaves of Azadirachta indica and leaves and fruits of Coccinia cordifolia and orally administered as treatment for diarrhea, loss of appetite, and indigestion, as well as for blood purifying purposes. Four plants were used to treat cattle diseases. Alstonia scholaris was used for treatment of restlessness in cows. Ageratum conyzoides was used to expedite delivery in cows. Euphorbia tirucalli was used to increase milk production in cows. Solanum surattense was used for treatment of tumors in humans as well as swelling of throat in cattle. Most of the plants used by the Kavirajes were obtained from the wild. However, Psidium guajava, Syzygium malaccense, Zizyphus jujuba, and Citrus acida were cultivated for their fruits, and Curcuma longa for its use as a spice. The rhizomes of Curcuma longa (English: turmeric) are boiled, dried and powdered prior to use as a spice in virtually all fish, meat and vegetable dishes of Bangladesh. Existing scientific reports validate the folk medicinal use of a number of plants obtained in the present survey. The anti-tubercular action of Justicia adhatoda (used by the Kavirajes for treatment of tuberculosis) has been reported (Gupta, K.C. and Chopra, I.C., 1954; Barry, V.C., 1955). Two semi-synthetic derivatives of vasicine (a constituent of the plant), namely bromhexine and ambroxol, have been found to be active in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Grange, J.M., and Snell, N.J., 1996). Extract of the plant has also been found to be active against multi-drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Gupta, R., 2010). The hepatoprotective action of Amaranthus spinosus (used by the Kavirajes against the hepatic disorder, jaundice) has also been demonstrated against d-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide as well as carbon tetrachlorideinduced hepatic damages (Zeashan, H., 2010; Zeashan, H., 2009; Zeashan, H., 2008). Alstonia scholaris was observed to be used by the Kavirajes against hepatic problems. The plant has also been shown to exert a protective effect against hepatotoxin-induced acute liver damage (Lin, S.C., 1996). The antinociceptive activity of latex of Calotropis procera has reportedly been demonstrated in mice (Soares, P.M., 2005). Notably, the Kavirajes use the plant for treatment of severe pain. The anti-diarrheal activity of Psidium guajava (used by the Kavirajes for treatment of diarrhea) has also been documented in the scientific literature (Ojewole, J.A.O.,2008; Birdi, T., 2010). Nyctanthes arbor tristis, which was observed by the Kavirajes to be used as treatment for fever has been also shown to possess antipyretic activity (Saxena, R.S., 1987). Taken together, it can be argued that other plants used by the Kavirajes and on which relevant scientific studies have not yet been conducted may prove their scientific validity once such studies are undertaken. 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