Ethnopharmacological survey on traditional medicinal plants at Keraniganj, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

The conventional source of medicinal plants is an important way for daily curative uses in rural area throughout Bangladesh. Folk medicinal specialists or Kavirajes, assume an indispensable part in a medicinal services arrangement of both provincial and urban populace of the nation. It is vital to conduct broad meetings of individual Kavirajes of an area to get the overall status of medicinal plants. A survey was accomplished in the rustic territory of Atibazaar, Keraniganj Upazila, Dhaka, Bangladesh. This investigation has uncovered a sum of 38 plants out of which 25 plants were identified, which belongs to 21 families. Whole plants and/or plant parts, like leaves, stems, barks, roots, flowers, fruits, seeds and wood were usually used by Kavirajes for the treatment of different illnesses. Leaves (84%) were the most oftentimes used plant parts, trailed by roots (52%), fruits (16%) stems and barks (16%), entire plants (12%), seeds (12%), blossoms (8%) and wood (4%). Add up to 30 diverse individual illnesses professed to be restored by plant parts including respiratory tract disorders (asthma, cough, whooping cough, bronchitis), fever, gastrointestinal disorders (constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, blood dysentery, flatulence), arthritis, pain, headache, irregular menstruation, piles, tooth infections, whitening teeth, diabetes, skin diseases, acne, insect, animals and reptiles bites, urinary tract disorders, inflammation and nervousness. Several uses of the plants could be validated by available literature review. It is expected that other plants used for treatment of various diseases by the Kavirajes can be subjected for further bio-activity and phytochemical studies, which prompts disclosure of new medications.