Medicinal plants used against leucorrhea in several regions of bogra district, Bangladesh

Abstract

Leucorrhea denotes a thick, whitish vaginal discharge, which can result from inflammation of the vaginal mucosa or can arise due to various diseases including sexually-transmitted diseases. Leucorrhea is highly prevalent amongst the rural women of Bangladesh. They usually rely on traditional medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes), who administer various decoctions prepared from medicinal plants to treat this ailment. The objective of this study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey amongst the Kavirajes of several regions of Bogra district, Bangladesh to collect information on medicinal plants used to treat leucorrhea. Plant specimens as collected from the Kavirajes were identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. A total of 12 plant species were found to be used by the Kavirajes. These plant species (with family name and plant parts used given in parenthesis) included Hygrophila spinosa (Acanthaceae, whole plant), Leea indica (Leeaceae, leaf, seed and fruit), Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae, leaf, seed and fruit), Punica granatum (Lythraceae, leaf, seed and fruit), Piper betle (Piperaceae, leaf, stem and root), Solanum nigrum (Solanaceae, whole plant), Glycosmis pentaphylla (Rutaceae, whole plant), Sida cordifolia (Malvaceae, leaf, stem and root), Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae, tuber), Phyllanthus emblica (Euphorbiaceae, leaf, seed and fruit), Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae, leaf, bark and fruit), and Aerva sanguinolenta (Amaranthaceae, whole plant). Since most rural women are not able to afford allopathic medicinal treatment, Kavirajes play a vital role in providing the necessary health care to treat leucorrhea.