Content uploaded by Majeedul Chowdhury
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Majeedul Chowdhury on Apr 30, 2017
Content may be subject to copyright.
332
American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 5(3): 332-343, 2011
ISSN 1995-0748
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Corresponding Author: Dr. Mohammad Rahmatullah, Pro-Vice Chancellor University of Development Alternative, House
No. 78, Road No. 11A(New) Dhanmondi R.A, Dhaka- 1205, Bangladesh.
E-mail: rahamatm@hotmail.com; Tel: 88-01715032621; Fax: 88-027157339
Medicinal Plants Used by Folk Medicinal Practitioners of Six Villages in Thakurgaon
District, Bangladesh
1Sanjoy Sarker, 1Syeda Seraj, 2Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar, 1Wahid Mozammel Haq, 3Majeedul
H. Chowdhury, 1Ishtiaq Ahmad, 1Rownak Jahan, 1Farhana Jamal, 1Mohammed Rahmatullah
1Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.
2Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh.
3Present address: New York City College of Technology, The City University of New York, Broooklyn, NY,
11201, USA.
Sanjoy Sarker, Syeda Seraj, Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar, Wahid Mozammel Haq, Majeedul H.
Chowdhury, Ishtiaq Ahmad, Rownak Jahan, Farhana Jamal, Mohammed Rahmatullah: Medicinal
Plants Used by Folk Medicinal Practitioners of Six Villages in Thakurgaon District, Bangladesh.
ABSTRACT
Folk medicinal practitioners, otherwise known as Kavirajes form an important component of the primary
health-care system of Bangladesh. Almost every village of the 86,000 villages of the country has one or more
practicing Kavirajes. Kavirajes also practice in the towns and cities; however, their patients mainly consist of
the rural population of the country. The major distinction separating the Kavirajes from other forms of
traditional medicinal practices of Bangladesh is their almost exclusive reliance on medicinal plants in their
formulations, which are simple and mainly consist of plant juice, decoctions or pastes that is administered orally
or topically depending upon the ailment. In previous ethnomedicinal surveys, we have observed considerable
differences in the selection of medicinal plants for treatment of the same ailment among Kavirajes of even
adjoining villages. Thus to get a comprehensive view of the medicinal plants used by the Kavirajes and their
mode of use, one has to survey the Kaviraj population of Bangladesh. The objective of the present study was to
conduct a survey among the Kavirajes of six villages, namely Akhanagar, Akcha, Goualia, Raipur, Uttar
Thakurgaon, and Vungapara, which falls in Thakurgaon district in the northern part of the country. It was
observed that a total of 110 plants were used by the Kavirajes, the plants being distributed into 63 families.
Virtually all plant parts were used in treatments; however, leaves constituted 44.6% of the total uses. Other
major plant parts used were whole plants (8.1%), roots (13.5%), fruits (10.8%), and stems (6.1%). The Kavirajes
treated a wide variety of ailments. From the number of plants used (29), gastrointestinal disorders appeared to be
the most common ailment treated. Respiratory tract disorders like cold, coughs and asthma were treated with 19
plant species, and fever was treated with 10 plant species. The Kavirajes had 11 plants for treatment of diabetes,
10 plants for pain in various forms, 10 plants for jaundice, 9 plants for treatment of urinary problems like
dysuria or polyuria, and 8 plants for treatment of sex-related disorders. Other ailments treated by the Kavirajes
included skin disorders, cancer, fungal infections, eye problems, cuts and wounds, burns, helminthiasis,
paralysis, heart disorders, hypertension, alopecia, gout, rheumatism, debility, menstrual problems, cholera,
hemorrhoids, gall bladder and kidney stones, snake bite, insect bite, rabies, epistaxis, mumps, chicken pox, and
bone fractures. Since the Kavirajes’ medicinal plant repertoire included plants which were used for treatment of
diseases difficult to cure with modern allopathic medicine like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatism,
these plants merit further scientific studies towards discovery of new drugs, which can prove beneficial in the
treatment of some major diseases affecting millions of people throughout the world.
Key words: Medicinal plants, folk medicine, Thakurgaon, Kaviraj, Bangladesh.
Introduction
Traditional medicinal practices exist in a number of countries of the world including the Indian sub-
continent comprising the countries of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Among the various systems of traditional
medicinal practices existing in Bangladesh, the major systems are Ayurvedic, Unani, homeopathy, and the folk
medicinal system. Unlike the first three traditional medicinal practices, which have their defined procedures for
diagnosis and treatment of diseases, folk medicine is practiced by practitioners, otherwise known as Kavirajes or
Vaidyas, who rely almost exclusively on medicinal plants for treatment and to a great extent these selection of
333
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
medicinal plants used for treatment depends upon the individual Kaviraj. Each Kaviraj keeps his knowledge of
medicinal plants and formulations to himself and this knowledge is usually passed on from generation to
generation within the family. As such, to obtain a comprehensive view of the medicinal plants used by the
Kavirajes, one has to interview more or less all Kavirajes of the country. The Kavirajes usually practice in the
rural areas and the 86,000 villages of Bangladesh almost all have one or more practicing Kavirajes, depending
upon the village population. Kavirajes are also present in the towns and cities, where they are more frequented
by slum dwellers and the poorer sections of the people, who cannot afford visits to allopathic doctors and
purchase allopathic medicines. Quite a number of the practicing Kavirajes are known to treat diseases for which
allopathic medicine has no known cure like cancer, rheumatism and diabetes. As such, many affluent people
also visit the Kavirajes as a last resort when their diseases or conditions have been given up as untreatable by
allopathic doctors.
Allopathic medicine has generally treated traditional medicinal practices with disdain because such
practices lack the rigorous scientific procedures necessary to establish and market any allopathic drug.
Traditional medicinal knowledge has always been based on centuries’ year old experiences and which has been
and still is dependent on the traditional medicinal practitioner’s experiences with the plant kingdom. In recent
years, recognizing the facts that not all diseases can be cured with allopathic medicine and that a number of
allopathic drugs have serious side-effects and that a number of allopathic drugs have developed disease-resistant
vectors, modern science is increasingly turning its attention to the plant kingdom as a potential source for future
efficacious drugs. It is also recognized that many modern medicines are plant-based and have been discovered
through carefully observing the traditional medicinal practices of indigenous people (Cotton, 1996). In fact,
considering the more than 250,000 plant species that exist throughout the world, it may be confidently said that
quite a number of these plants, which are yet to be scientifically studied, contains secondary metabolites or
phytochemicals, which can form the basis of new medicines.
Bangladesh has over 5,000 floral species and many of them are in use by the Kavirajes in folk medicine. In
our previous ethnomedicinal studies conducted among folk and tribal medicinal practitioners of the country, we
have noticed considerable variation between the medicinal plants selected by different Kavirajes for treatment of
a given ailment. This variation exists even between Kavirajes practicing in adjoining villages with identical
flora. A number of these studies have been documented (Nawaz et al., 2009; Rahmatullah et al., 2009a-c; Hasan
et al., 2010; Hossan et al., 2010; Mollik et al., 2010a,b; Rahmatullah et al., 2010a-g; Jahan et al., 2011). The
inescapable conclusion is that if one has to obtain a comprehensive picture of the medicinal plants used by the
folk medicinal practitioners, then as many Kavirajes as possible need to be interviewed to learn about the
diseases treated, medicinal plants used, and the formulations of their administration. The objective of the present
study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes of six villages of Thakurgaon district,
which lies in the northern region of Bangladesh.
Materials and Methods
The present survey was conducted among the Kavirajes of six villages of Thakurgaon district in the
northern part of Bangladesh, namely Akhanagar, Akcha, Goualia, Raipur, Uttar Thakurgaon, and Vungapara.
Each village (other than Raipur) had one practicing Kaviraj. Raipur had two practicing Kavirajes. The Kavirajes
were Sree Jitendra Nath Barman (Akhanagar), Noidar Chan (Akcha), Mohammad Kafil Uddin (Goualia), Nepali
Rani Barman (Raipur), Sree Harilal Barman (Raipur), Jagadish Chandra Barman (Uttar Thakurgaon), and
Kalicharan Barman (Vungapara). Of the seven Kavirajes, six belonged to the Hindu religion, while one,
Mohammad Kafil Uddin was Muslim. It may be mentioned in this regard that Kavirajes in Bangladesh, till
recent times, belonged mostly to the Hindu religion.
Informed consent was obtained at first from the Kavirajes. All Kavirajes were informed thoroughly about
the nature and purpose of our visit and consent obtained to disseminate their provided information both
nationally and internationally. Interviews were conducted of the Kavirajes with the help of a semi-structured
questionnaire and the guided field-walk method of Martin (1995) and Maundu (1995). In this method, the
Kavirajes took the interviewers on guided field-walks through areas from where they collected their medicinal
plants, pointed out the plants and described their uses. Interviews were conducted in the Bengali language,
which was spoken by both interviewers and interviewees alike. All provided information was double-checked
with the Kavirajes in later evening sessions. Plant specimens were collected and dried on the spot and brought
334
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
back to Dhaka to be identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. The ex-Curator and Principal Scientific
Officer of the Bangladesh National Herbarium, Mr. Manjur-Ul-Kadir Mia also helped in the identification of
plant samples.
Results and Discussion
The seven Kavirajes of the six villages surveyed in Thakurgaon district used 110 plant species distributed
into 63 families for treatment of various diseases. The results are shown in Table 1. Major families contributing
plant species towards treatment of various diseases included the Apocynaceae, Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae,
Fabaceae, Moraceae, Piperaceae, and Poaceae families (Table 2). Some plant families like the Berberidaceae,
Loranthaceae, and the Urticaceae family plants were not usually observed to be used by other Kavirajes in other
regions of Bangladesh (see our earlier reports, References above). The large number of plant species used for
treatment of diseases testified to the Kavirajes’ knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants growing within
the surveyed area. As mentioned earlier, the practice of the Kavirajes is generational; as a result, knowledge is
accumulated over successive generations resulting in the formation of a large data base within the Kaviraj as to
the medicinal properties of various plants growing within an extended area of the Kavirajes’ habitat.
It was observed that virtually all parts of plants were used for treatment. Leaves constituted the plant part
most frequently used, forming 44.6% of total uses. Leaves were followed by roots at 13.5% and fruits at 10.8%.
Whole plants were used 8.1% of the time, while barks formed 9.5% of total uses. Other plant parts used
included stems, flowers, seeds, plant sap, rhizome and gum. The results are shown in Table 3.
The mode of treatment of the Kavirajes was quite simple. In most cases juice would be extracted from the
whole plant or plant part through macerating, crushing or boiling in water followed by administration of the
juice either topically or orally, depending on the disease. Skin infections, cuts, wounds, burns or eye diseases
usually had topical applications of plant parts; for other diseases, the mode of administration was mostly oral.
With two exceptions, the Kaviraj used a single plant for treatment of a single disease. However, various parts
from the same plant were observed to be used to treat different diseases. A single plant part also would be used
for treatment of multiple diseases. To cite one instance of each, the bark of Lannea coromandelica was used for
treatment of diabetes. The barks of Mangifera indica were used for treatment of diarrhea, while young leaves of
the same plant were used for treatment of headache. The leaves of Aloe barbadensis were used for treatment of
two highly different ailments like dysuria and constipation. The two instances where parts from multiple plants
were used for treatment were a combination of fruits of Piper longum, seeds of Piper nigrum and rhizomes of
Zingiber officinale for treatment of jaundice, and a combination of leaves of Centella asiatica, rhizomes of
Zingiber officinale and fruits of Piper nigrum for treatment of cold.
Table 1: Medicinal plants used for treatment of various ailments by the seven Kavirajes of six villages surveyed in Thakurgaon district,
Bangladesh.
Serial
Number
Scientific Name Family Name Local Name Utilize Part Ailment
1 Andrographis
paniculata (Burm.
F.) Wall. ex Nees
Acanthaceae Niltong,
Kalomegh
Whole plant Fever. Juice obtained from macerated
whole plant is taken thrice daily up to 7
days.
2 Justicia adhatoda L. Acanthaceae Har baksha,
Bashok
Leaf Cold, fever, jaundice. 100g juice
obtained from macerated leaves is taken
orally with honey thrice daily for 7 days.
3 Aloe barbadensis
Mill.
Aloaceae Ghee kumari Leaf Dysuria (burning sensations during
urination), constipation. Leaves are
boiled in water. Two teaspoonful of the
decoction is taken with sugar for 14 days.
4 Achyranthes aspera
L.
Amaranthaceae Dhanshisari,
Coscoria
Leaf Abdominal pain. 3 ml juice obtained
from crushed leaves is taken once daily
for 7 days.
5 Amaranthus
spinosus L.
Amaranthaceae Kanta khoria Root Urinary problems (burning sensation
during urination). Crushed roots are
taken twice daily for 7 days.
6 Lannea
coromandelica
(Houtt.) Merr.
Anacardiaceae Jiga Bark Diabetes. Bark is cut into small pieces
and soaked overnight in water. The water
is then taken 1-3 times daily.
7 Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae Aam Young leaf,
bark
Diarrhea, headache. Juice obtained from
crushed bark is orally administered for
diarrhea. Young leaves are mixed with
salt and massaged on the forehead or
eaten as remedy for headache.
8 Polyalthia longifolia
(Sonn.) Thwaites
(PL)
Annonaceae Debdaru Bark Dysentery, itch, scabies. Decoction made
from powdered bark is taken with honey
for dysentery. Powdered bark is mixed
with mustard oil and applied to affected
335
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
areas as treatment for itch and scabies.
9 Alstonia scholaris
(L.) R.Br. Apocynaceae Chatim gach Stem, bark Charu gha (scurvy) - local term
indicating ulceration and sometimes
accompanied by swellings of mouth,
mouth ulcer. Sap obtained from stem is
applied to affected area. Crushed bark is
taken for mouth ulcer.
10 Carissa carandas L. Apocynaceae Koromcha Leaf, fruit Cold. Leaves are boiled in water to make
a syrup, which is then taken twice daily
for 7 days. Fruits are eaten when in
season.
11 Catharanthus roseus
(L.) G. Don Apocynaceae Noyon tara Leaf, flower Cancer, diabetes, fungal infection.
Crushed leaves and flowers are boiled
and the decoction taken twice daily for 9
days. Taking 2-3 leaves orally with water
daily can control blood sugar.
12 Holarrhena
antidysenterica (L.)
Wall. ex A. DC.
Apocynaceae Kutishwer Bark, seed Diarrhea. Juice obtained from macerated
bark and seeds is taken twice daily with
honey until cure.
13 Nerium indicum
Mill.
Apocynaceae Korobi Leaf Skin disorders. Crushed leaves are
applied topically once daily for 10 days.
14 Alocasia
macrorrhizos (L.) G.
Don.
Araceae Mana,
Mankochu
Whole plant,
leaf
Iron deficiency, vision problem, jaundice,
constipation. For iron deficiency, vision
problem and jaundice, leaves are cooked
and eaten as vegetable. For constipation,
whole plants are cooked and eaten as
vegetable.
15 Typhonium
trilobatum (L.)
Schott
Araceae Taka lai Whole plant Gastric problems (symptoms: formation
of gas inside stomach). Whole plants are
cooked and taken as vegetable.
16 Areca catechu L. Arecaceae Supari gach Root Toothache. Crushed root is mixed with
salt and used for brushing teeth.
17 Aristolochia indica
L.
Aristolochiaceae Ishwar mul Leaf, root Allergy, skin disorders. Juice obtained
from boiled leaves and roots is taken
twice daily for 7 days.
18 Calotropis procera
(Ait.) Ait.f. Asclepiadaceae Akondo Leaf Jaundice. Juice obtained from crushed
leaves is taken twice daily till cure.
19 Tagetes erecta L. Asteraceae Gada phool Leaf Wounds. Paste made from crushed leaves
is applied to wounds.
20 Berberis asiatica
Roxb. ex DC. Berberidaceae Dar holdi Root Severe ulceration. Juice obtained from
crushed roots is taken 1-2 times per week
until cure.
21 Bombax ceiba L. Bombacaceae Shimul Leaf, root Sexual weakness. Leaves and roots are
soaked in water overnight followed by
drinking the water early in the morning.
This is continued for 7 days.
22 Heliotropium
indicum L.
Boraginaceae Hatishur Leaf Conjunctivitis. A few drops of juice
obtained from macerated leaves is
topically applied to the eyes.
23 Ananas comosus
(L.) Merr.
Bromeliaceae Anarosh Young leaf Helminthiasis. Young leaves are chewed
and the juice taken orally twice a week.
24 Opuntia dillenii
(Ker-Gawl.) Haw. Cactaceae Monsha debi Whole plant Paralysis. Juice obtained from macerated
whole plant is massaged onto the
paralyzed area twice daily for 4 weeks.
25 Carica papaya L. Caricaceae Papay Fruit Fever, blood dysentery. 200 ml fruit juice
is taken twice daily for 5 days.
26 Mesua nagassarium
(Burm. F.) Kosterm. Clusiaceae Nageshwar Flower Fever. Flowers are soaked in water for 3
days and then the water taken.
27 Terminalia arjuna
(Roxb. ex DC.)
Wight & Arn.
Combretaceae Arjun Leaf, bark Low sperm count, dysentery, heart
disease. Barks are soaked in water and
the water taken once daily on an empty
stomach for 4 days for dysentery and 41
days for low sperm count. 50g powder
obtained from dried leaves is taken with
20g sugar twice daily for heart disease.
28 Terminalia belerica
(Gaertn.) Roxb. Combretaceae Bohera Leaf, fruit Coughs, indigestion. Leaves and fruits
are boiled and the decoction taken thrice
daily for 7 days.
29 Terminalia catappa
L.
Combretaceae Kath badam Leaf Skin disorder. Juice obtained from
crushed leaves is applied topically.
30 Terminalia chebula
Retz. Combretaceae Horitoki Leaf Fungal infection. Crushed leaf is boiled
and the juice taken thrice daily for 8
days.
31 Tradescantia Commelinaceae Chakkhu ratan Leaf Blood purifier. Juice obtained from
336
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
zebrina Heynh. ex
Bosse crushed leaves is taken early in the
morning regularly for 7 days.
32 Ipomoea fistulosa
Mart. ex Choisy Convolvulaceae Dhol kolmi Leaf, flower Peptic ulcer. Tablet made from 50g dried
leaf powder and 20g dried flower powder
is taken once daily for 14 days.
33 Ipomoea mauritiana
Jacq. Convolvulaceae Vui kumra Leaf, root Sexual disorders. Juice from boiled
leaves and roots is taken twice daily for
21 days.
34 Ipomoea quamoclit
L.
Convolvulaceae Berati phool Whole plant Wounds, burns. Paste made from whole
plant is applied topically.
35 Kalanchoe pinnata
(Lam.) Pers.
Crassulaceae Heam kancha Leaf Cold, polyuria (excessive urination),
abdominal pain. Juice obtained from
crushed leaves is taken during common
cold. For polyuria, 3-4 leaves are chewed
in the morning and afternoon. For
abdominal pain, leaf is chewed with salt.
36 Coccinia grandis
(L.) J. Voigt Cucurbitaceae Telakuch pata Leaf Hypertension, diabetes. Juice obtained
from crushed leaves is taken thrice daily
for 7 days for hypertension. Leaves are
chewed every morning to keep blood
sugar under control during diabetes.
37 Momordica
charantia L.
Cucurbitaceae Usta Leaf, fruit Diabetes, cancer, headache, skin
disorder. One teaspoonful of juice
obtained from crushed leaves and fruits is
taken daily for diabetes and cancer. For
headache and skin disorder, boiled leaves
are applied topically to head or skin.
38 Cuscuta reflexa
Roxb.
Cuscutaceae Alok lota Stem Jaundice. 2 ml juice obtained from
macerated stems is taken twice daily for
4 days.
39 Dillenia indica L. Dilleniaceae Chalta Leaf Sex stimulant. 25 ml juice obtained from
crushed leaves is taken once daily for 15
days.
40 Croton
bonplandianum
Baill.
Euphorbiaceae Bishollo
koroli
Leaf Burns. Paste prepared from leaves is
applied topically.
41 Euphorbia tirucalli
L.
Euphorbiaceae Dudh zaron Leaf Cancer, coughs. Juice obtained from
macerated leaves is taken once daily for
cancer and twice daily for coughs.
42 Phyllanthus emblica
L.
Euphorbiaceae Amloki Leaf, bark,
fruit
Alopecia, indigestion. Decoction of
crushed leaves, roots and bark is taken
thrice daily for 14 days.
43 Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae Venna gach Leaf, fruit Pain, inflammation. Juice obtained from
macerated leaves and fruits is slightly
warmed and applied to affected areas.
44 Tragia involucrata
L.
Euphorbiaceae Bischatu Leaf, root Diabetes. Small pieces of leaves and
roots are soaked in water overnight and
the water taken the following morning.
This is continued for a long time.
45 Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae Josthi modhu Leaf Cold, coughs. One ounce juice obtained
from crushed leaves is taken daily till
cure.
46 Clitoria ternatea L. Fabaceae Aparajita Leaf, root Burns, pimples. Juice obtained from
crushed leaves and roots is applied
topically.
47 Mimosa pudica L. Fabaceae Lojjaboti Root Jaundice. 50g crushed root is taken twice
daily for 30 days.
48 Mucuna pruriens
(L.) DC.
Fabaceae Shoashing,
Alkushi
Seed Sexual problems, gout. Crushed seed
powder is taken (3-4 teaspoonful) for 10
days.
49 Senna alata (L.)
Roxb.
Fabaceae Bormo
chondal
Root Liver diseases. Juice obtained from
crushed roots is taken with honey 1-2
times daily till cure.
50 Leucas indica L. Lamiaceae Dulfi Leaf Gout. Leaves are cooked and taken as
vegetable for 2 days.
51 Mentha arvensis L. Lamiaceae Pudina Leaf Dysentery, indigestion. Juice obtained
from crushed leaves is taken thrice daily
for 7 days.
52 Ocimum
gratissimum L.
Lamiaceae Tulshi Leaf, root Coughs, antibiotic. Juice obtained from a
combination of macerated leaves and
roots is considered antibiotic. Juice
obtained from crushed roots is taken with
honey for coughs.
53 Cinnamomum verum Lauraceae Kabak chini Leaf, stem Arthritis (joint pain). Juice obtained from
337
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
J.Presl. macerated leaves and stems is applied to
affected areas twice daily for 7 days.
54 Litsea glutinosa
(Lour.) C.D.Robins. Lauraceae Pipulti, Khara
jora gach
Leaf, fruit Burning sensations during urination.
Juice obtained from a combination of
crushed leaves and fruits is taken twice
daily for 1 week.
To increase physical strength,
constipation. Leaves are boiled in water
followed by straining the water. The
water is taken every morning for 21 days.
55 Leea macrophylla
Roxb. ex Hornem Leeaceae Hati kana Leaf, root Rheumatism. Paste prepared from
crushed leaves and roots are applied to
affected areas.
56 Asparagus
racemosus Willd.
Liliaceae Shotomul Leaf, root Debility (in case of males). Leaves and
roots are boiled together and the
decoction taken twice daily for 14 days.
57 Urginea indica
Kunth.
Liliaceae Bon piyaz Leaf, fruit Rheumatism, acidity, dysentery. Juice
obtained from macerated leaves is
slightly warmed and applied to affected
areas twice daily for 4 days for
rheumatism. Juice obtained from
macerated leaves and fruit is taken on an
empty stomach thrice daily for 14 days
for acidity and dysentery.
58 Dendrophthoe
falcata (L.f) Etting. Loranthaceae Manda Leaf, bark Skin diseases, asthma, menstrual
problems. Leaf paste is used for skin
diseases. Juice obtained from squeezed
bark is taken for asthma and menstrual
problems.
59 Lygodium flexuosum
(L.) Sw. Lygodiaceae Shangi var Whole plant Lower back pain. Juice obtained from
macerated whole plant is applied
topically.
60 Punica granatum L. Lythraceae Dalim Bark Dysentery. About 100g bark is grinded,
mixed with salt and water and taken
twice daily for 7 days.
61 Sida acuta Burm. f. Malvaceae Boirally Leaf Dysuria (burning sensations during
urination). Juice obtained from crushed
leaves is taken with honey twice daily for
3 days.
62 Azadirachta indica
A. Juss. Meliaceae Neem Stem Toothache. Young stems are crushed and
applied to tooth.
63 Stephania japonica
(Thunb.) Miers Menispermaceae Cherakee Leaf Sexual problems. 100g juice obtained
from crushed leaves is taken orally with
honey till cure.
64 Tinospora crispa
(L.) Hook.f. &
Thoms.
Menispermaceae Gorincha Leaf Fever, diabetes, cholera. Leaves are
boiled in 3 glasses of water for 20
minutes. ½ glass of the decoction is taken
thrice daily before meals.
65 Artocarpus
heterophyllus Lam. Moraceae Kathal Gum Dry cracked heels, hemorrhoids. Gum is
applied to affected areas.
66 Ficus benghalensis
L.
Moraceae Bot Sap Kidney pain. Sap is taken with one
teaspoonful of honey for a week.
67 Ficus hispida L.f. Moraceae Joggo dumur
gach
Leaf, fruit To keep healthy, diabetes. Crushed
leaves and fruits are taken to keep
healthy. Fruits are taken for diabetes.
68 Ficus racemosa L. Moraceae Dumra Fruit Jaundice, diabetes. Fruits are cooked with
mustard oil and taken as vegetable.
69 Ficus rumphii
Blume
Moraceae Ashok, Pakur Bark Hematuria (passing of blood with urine).
Juice obtained from crushed bark is taken
with honey.
70 Streblus asper Lour. Moraceae Shaora gach Leaf Fever. ½ cup of juice obtained from
squeezed leaves is taken twice daily for 5
days.
71 Moringa oleifera
Lam.
Moringaceae Sajna gach Leaf Diabetes, acidity, hypertension. Juice
obtained from macerated leaves is taken
until cure.
72 Musa sapientum L. Musaceae Aita kola Young leaf Diarrhea, diabetes, blood purifier,
coughs, dysentery, insect bite. Juice
obtained from macerated young leaves is
taken for diarrhea, dysentery, diabetes,
coughs, and as a blood purifier. Crushed
young leaves are applied topically to
insect bites.
73 Psidium guajava L. Myrtaceae Piyara gach Leaf Menstrual problems. Juice obtained from
338
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
crushed leaves is taken twice daily.
74 Syzygium
aromaticum (L.)
Merr. & L. M. Perry
Myrtaceae Lobongo Leaf, flower Coughs, to increase mental strength.
Crushed leaves and flowers are taken
with honey for 7 days.
75 Syzygium cumini
(L.) Skeels
Myrtaceae Jaam Leaf, bark,
seed
Tooth caries, dysentery, diabetes, stone
in kidney or penis. Leaves are mixed
with salt and used to brush teeth during
tooth caries. Crushed bark is eaten with
honey for dysentery. Seeds are soaked in
water overnight and the water taken the
following morning for diabetes or stones
in kidney or penis.
76 Geodorum
densiflorum (Lam.)
Schltr.
Orchidaceae Shonkho muni Whole plant Meho (urinary problems arising from
endocrinological disorders or diabetes).
Juice obtained from crushed whole plant
is mixed with honey and taken 2-3 times
daily for a month.
77 Averrhoa carambola
L.
Oxalidaceae Kamranga Fruit Cold, cough, dandruff. For colds and
coughs, 1-2 mature fruits are taken daily
till cure. For dandruff, juice obtained
from fruits is rubbed on head.
78 Piper betle L. Piperaceae Paan pata Leaf Sexual problems. Juice obtained from
crushed leaves is taken with honey twice
daily for 1 week.
79 Piper chaba W.
Hunter
Piperaceae Aishta pata Leaf Stone accumulation or formation in gall
bladder, dysuria. Juice from crushed
leaves is taken regularly till cure.
80 Piper longum L. Piperaceae Pipul Fruit Jaundice. A mixture of powdered Piper
longum fruit, Piper nigrum seeds, and
Zingiber officinale rhizome is taken
orally.
81 Piper nigrum L. Piperaceae Gol morich Fruit, whole
plant
Cold. For common cold, the leaves of
Centella asiatica are taken with rhizomes
of Zingiber officinale and fruits of Piper
nigrum.
Jaundice. A mixture of powdered Piper
longum fruit, Piper nigrum seeds, and
Zingiber officinale rhizome is taken
orally.
Rabies, gastric problems, ulcer,
dysentery. Whole plant is administered
orally.
82 Bambusa oldhamii
Munro
Poaceae Bansh Young stem Cold. Young stems are cooked and eaten
as vegetable.
83 Cynodon dactylon
(L.) Pers.
Poaceae Durba ghash Leaf To keep body healthy, to stop bleeding
from external cuts and wounds. Juice
from crushed leaves is taken to keep
body healthy. Crushed leaves are applied
to cuts and wounds to stop bleeding.
84 Milium effusum L. Poaceae Nol twin Whole plant Wounds. Juice from crushed whole plant
is applied to wounds.
85 Saccharum
officinarum L.
Poaceae Kushul, Aakh Stem juice Indigestion. Preserved stem juice (2-3
years old) is taken orally.
86 Vetiveria zizanioides
(L.) Nash
Poaceae Binnar mura Root Epistaxis (nose bleed). Juice obtained
from crushed roots is taken through nose.
87 Drynaria quercifolia
(L.) J. Smith Polypodiaceae Ponkhi raj Rhizome Diarrhea, coughs. Juice obtained from
crushed rhizomes is taken 2-3 times daily
till cure.
88 Eichhornia
crassipes (Mart.)
Solms
Pontederiaceae Kochuripana Leaf, root Fever. Juice obtained from macerated
leaves and roots is taken twice daily for 7
days.
89 Zizyphus mauritiana
Lam. Rhamnaceae Boroi Leaf Toothache. 100g leaf is boiled in water
containing common salt and taken twice
daily for 21 days.
90 Anthocephalus
chinensis (Lam.) A.
Rich. ex Walp.
Rubiaceae Kodom Leaf, bark Fever. Juice obtained from macerated
leaves and bark is mixed with honey and
taken twice daily for 7 days.
91 Ixora coccinea L. Rubiaceae Langon Root Dysentery. Crushed roots are taken twice
daily till cure.
92 Paederia foetida L. Rubiaceae Gondho vadal,
Paad pata
Leaf Indigestion. Leaves are cooked with salt
like vegetable and taken once daily for 1
week.
93 Aegle marmelos (L.)
Corr.
Rutaceae Bel Fruit Dysentery, constipation, excessive
bleeding during menstruation. Mature
339
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
fruit pulp is mixed with water and sugar
or honey and taken for 1 week.
94 Santalum album L. Santalaceae Shet chondon Leaf, stem Dysentery. Juice obtained from crushed
leaves and stems is taken with honey
once daily for 15 days.
95 Mimusops elengi L. Sapotaceae Bokul Bark Coughs, toothache. Juice obtained from
macerated bark is orally administered for
coughs. Bark is chewed for toothache.
96 Scoparia dulcis L. Scrophulariaceae Chini mitha Leaf Gastric problems, ulcer. Juice obtained
from macerated leaves is taken orally for
a considerable period of time.
97 Smilax zeylanica L. Smilacaceae Kumra khata Whole plant Sexual problems. Juice obtained from
macerated whole plant is taken with
honey 1-2 times per week.
98 Capsicum frutescens
L.
Solanaceae Ghiya morich Fruit Gastric problems, ulcer. Fruits are
cooked and taken as vegetable for 15
days.
99 Datura metel L. Solanaceae Dhutra Leaf, root Coughs, mumps, chicken pox. 100g of
leaf paste is mixed with 50g of mustard
oil and massages on the chest thrice daily
for 3 days for coughs. 30g dried and
powdered root is mixed with 50g water
and taken daily for 5 days for mumps. In
case of chicken pox, 20g root paste is
applied to pustules.
100 Solanum torvum
Swartz Solanaceae Kontikari Leaf, stem To prevent chicken pox. One handful of
leaves and stems is soaked in a glass of
water and the water taken the following
morning on an empty stomach.
101 Solanum violaceum
Orteg. Solanaceae Tit baegun Root, fruit Snake bite, itches. For snake bite, juice
obtained from macerated root is mixed
with water and mustard oil and applied
topically to bitten area. Crushed fruits are
boiled with water and massaged onto
affected areas for itches.
102 Abroma augusta L.f. Sterculiaceae Ulot kombol Bark Menstrual problems, meho (local term
used by the Kavirajes denoting urinary
problem arising from endocrinological
disorder or diabetes). If too little blood
comes out or there is pain during
menstruation, juice obtained from
macerated bark is mixed with black
peppers and orally administered. The
same application is followed for meho.
103 Triumfetta
rhomboidea Jacq. Tiliaceae Golmorich
chorchoria
Root Irregular menstruation. Juice obtained
from macerated roots is taken 2-3 times
daily for 5 days.
104 Centella asiatica
(L.) Urb.
Umbelliferae Thankuni Whole plant,
leaf
Cold, rabies, gastric problems, ulcer,
dysentery. For common cold, the leaves
of Centella asiatica are taken with
rhizomes of Zingiber officinale and fruits
of Piper nigrum. For the rest, the whole
plant is administered orally.
105 Fleurya interrupta
Gaud. Urticaceae Bichuti Root Cold. Crushed roots are orally taken with
honey twice daily for 5 days.
106 Clerodendrum
viscosum Vent.
Verbenaceae Vauti Soft leaf Jaundice, fever. 5-7 crushed leaves are
mixed with honey and taken twice daily
for 7 days.
107 Vitex negundo L. Verbenaceae Nishinda gach Leaf Debility, mosquito repellent. Juice
obtained from crushed leaves is taken for
debility. Leaves are burnt to repel
mosquitoes.
108 Cissus
quadrangularis L.
Vitaceae Harjora Whole plant Bone fracture. 100g paste of whole plant
is applied to the fractured area twice
daily for 7 days.
109 Diplazium
esculentum (Retz.)
Sw.
Woodsiaceae Dheki shak Leaf, stem Fever. Leaves and stems are cooked and
eaten as vegetable.
110 Zingiber officinale
Roscoe
Zingiberaceae Ada Rhizome Cold. For co mmon cold, the leaves of
Centella asiatica are taken with rhizomes
of Zingiber officinale and fruits of Piper
nigrum.
Jaundice. A mixture of powdered Piper
longum fruit, Piper nigrum seeds, and
340
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
Zingiber officinale rhizome is taken
orally.
Rabies, gastric problems, ulcer,
dysentery. Whole plant is administered
orally.
Table 2: Plant families and number of plants per family.
Family Number of
plants
Family Number of
plants
Family Number of
plants
Acanthaceae 2 Crassulaceae 1 Oxalidaceae 1
Aloaceae 1 Cucurbitaceae 2 Piperaceae 4
Amaranthaceae 2 Cuscutaceae 1 Poaceae 5
Anacardiaceae 2 Dilleniaceae 1 Polypodiaceae 1
Annonaceae 1 Euphorbiaceae 5 Pontederiaceae 1
Apocynaceae 5 Fabaceae 5 Rhamnaceae 1
Araceae 2 Lamiaceae 3 Rubiaceae 3
Arecaceae 1 Lauraceae 2 Rutaceae 1
Aristolochiaceae 1 Leeaceae 1 Santalaceae 1
Asclepiadaceae 1 Liliaceae 2 Sapotaceae 1
Asteraceae 1 Loranthaceae 1 Scrophulariaceae 1
Berberidaceae 1 Lygodiaceae 1 Smilacaceae 1
Bombacaceae 1 Lythraceae 1 Solanaceae 4
Boraginaceae 1 Malvaceae 1 Sterculiaceae 1
Bromeliaceae 1 Meliaceae 1 Tiliaceae 1
Cactaceae 1 Menispermaceae 2 Umbelliferae 1
Caricaceae 1 Moraceae 6 Urticaceae 1
Clusiaceae 1 Moringaceae 1 Verbenaceae 2
Combretaceae 4 Musaceae 1 Vitaceae 1
Commelinaceae 1 Myrtaceae 3 Woodsiaceae 1
Convolvulaceae 3 Orchidaceae 1 Zingiberaceae 1
Table 3: Plants parts and their percentage uses in the various formulations of the Kavirajes.
Plant part Percentage of use
Whole plant 8.1
Leaf 44.6
Stem 6.1
Root 13.5
Bark 9.5
Flower 2.7
Fruit 10.8
Seed 2.0
Sap 0.7
Rhizome 1.4
Gum 0.7
Occasionally plant juice or plant part would be mixed with sugar, salt or honey prior to oral administration,
usually to make the juice more palatable, but also sometimes for additional therapeutic purposes. A decoction of
leaves of Aloe barbadensis was advised to be taken with sugar. Powder prepared from dried leaves of
Terminalia arjuna were also advised to be taken with sugar as treatment for heart disease. For treatment of
abdominal pain, leaves of Kalanchoe pinnata were advised to be chewed with salt. Notably, abdominal pain can
result from gas formation, which can be relieved by taking a little bit of salt (this is a common home remedy in
Bangladesh). In this instance, the salt, besides making the leaves palatable can also serve a therapeutic purpose.
Juice obtained from macerated leaves of Justicia adhatoda was prescribed to be taken with honey as treatment
for cold, fever, and jaundice. Honey is usually considered a medicine by the Kavirajes, and is commonly
advised to be taken for cold. The use of honey in this instance can serve a synergistic purpose on top of the
effects of the leaf juice in relieving cold. In the case of fever and jaundice (when the body is weak), honey can
also serve as a good source for energy.
A remarkable thing about the Kavirajes was their claim to have effective treatments for cancer, diabetes,
and rheumatism. These are diseases for which allopathic medicine has no easy cure or no cure at all. The
Kavirajes had no proper diagnostic procedures for cancer or diabetes. Any unusual or unexplainable swelling of
any body part together with gradual wasting away of body was determined to be cancer. Diabetes was usually
determined through report of frequent urination and sweet taste of urine. Cancer was treated with three plants,
namely, Catharanthus roseus, Momordica charantia, and Euphorbia tirucalli. Diabetes was treated with eleven
plants, namely Lannea coromandelica, Catharanthus roseus, Coccinia grandis, Momordica charantia, Tragia
involucrata, Tinospora crispa, Ficus hispida, Ficus racemosa, Moringa oleifera, Musa sapientum, and
Syzygium cumini. Irrespective of the lack of modern diagnostic procedures among the Kavirajes, it is interesting
that out of the three plants used by the Kavirajes to treat cancer, scientific research has already shown the
341
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
anticancer activity present in two of the plants - Catharanthus roseus and Momordica charantia (Roepke et al.,
2010; Ray et al., 2010). The antidiabetic activities of whole plants or plant parts of Catharanthus roseus,
Coccinia cordifolia, Momordica charantia, Tinospora crispa, Ficus racemosa, Moringa oleifera, Musa
sapientum, and Syzygium cumini have been also reported (Rasineni et al., 2010; Islam et al., 2009; Hafizur et
al., 2011; Sangsuwan et al., 2004; Ahmed and Urooj, 2010; Jaiswal et al., 2009; Adewoye et al., 2009; Pandey
and Khan, 2002). The scientific validation of medicinal plant usage by the Kavirajes indicate that folk medicinal
knowledge is not only not to be ignored but modern science can benefit a lot through extensive investigation of
the plants used by folk medicinal practitioners and their mode of usage. One further comment in this regard is
that scientific studies are usually carried out with plant extracts; it is possibly time for scientific studies to be
carried out with formulations as exactly used by the folk medicinal practitioners to get relevant results.
The Kavirajes were observed to use a number of plants for treatment of the same disease or symptoms. As
pointed out earlier, eleven plants were used for treatment of diabetes. This was because all plants were not
available throughout the year, or plant parts like fruits were highly seasonal. The versatility of the Kavirajes was
also shown in the observation that they not only used wild plants in their treatment, but also many plants which
were cultivated or which could be easily found to be grown as ornamental plants in various village homesteads.
Examples of cultivated plants included Mangifera indica, Carissa carandas, Alocasia macrorrhizos, Typhonium
trilobatum, Areca catechu, Bombax ceiba, Ananas comosus, Carica papaya, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia
chebula, Momordica charantia, Phyllanthus emblica, Mentha arvensis, Cinnamomum verum, Punica granatum,
Azadirachta indica, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Moringa oleifera, Musa sapientum, Psidium guajava, Syzygium
aromaticum, Syzygium cumini, Averrhoa carambola, Piper betle, Piper nigrum, Saccharum officinarum,
Zizyphus mauritiana, Aegle marmelos, Capsicum frutescens, Centella asiatica, and Zingiber officinale. Most of
these plants were cultivated or grown in homesteads for their edible fruits; however, some were used as spices
or vegetables. Saccharum officinarum was cultivated to obtain sugar and molasses, while a number of the
people of Bangladesh have the habit of chewing Piper betle leaves with nuts from Areca catechu, especially
after meals both as mouth freshener as well as a digestive aid.
Another interesting aspect of the Kavirajes of the surveyed villages in the present study was that they
advised several plants or plant parts to be cooked and eaten as vegetable as remedy for several ailments. The
leaves of Alocasia macrorrhizos were advised to be cooked and eaten as remedy for iron deficiency, vision
problem, and jaundice. Notably, the plant is rich in iron as well as in vitamin A; the latter can prove beneficial
as remedy for night blindness, a common problem in Bangladesh. Other plants or plant parts advised to be taken
in the cooked form were Typhonium trilobatum, Leucas indica, Ficus racemosa, Capsicum frutescens, and
Diplazium esculentum. Leucas indica was used as remedy for gout; the plant is extremely bitter and is eaten as a
home remedy in the cooked form for alleviation of pain. In this case, the plant could be serving a similar
purpose in alleviating pain arising from gout. One plant, namely, Solanum torvum, was observed to be used by
the Kavirajes not for therapeutic purposes, but to serve as a preventive purpose to prevent chicken pox.
Scientific validation of medicinal plants used by the Kavirajes to treat cancer and diabetes suggest that other
plants may be scientifically validated in their traditional uses, when examined for relevant bioactivities. In fact,
Justicia adhatoda, a plant used by the Kavirajes to treat cold and fever has been shown to contain alkaloids,
which exert a beneficial effect on inflammatory diseases (Chakraborty and Brantner, 2001); a bronchodilator
alkaloid, vasicinone has also been reported to be present in the plant (Amin and Mehta, 1959). The scientific
results suggest that the other medicinal plants used by the Kavirajes merit scientific attention for further studies
leading to possible discovery of lead compounds and efficacious drugs. At the same time, considerable attention
must be paid such that wild plants do not become endangered or extinct through inappropriate harvesting. Plants
whose roots are used in folk medicine gets destroyed totally when the whole plant is uprooted to collect roots; as
such if proper conservation efforts are absent these plants can quickly be lost. Thus a two-pronged approach is
necessary - to conduct scientific studies on medicinal plants, and to spur conservation efforts of the same plants.
References
Adewoye, E.O., V.O. Taiwo and F.A. Olayioye, 2009. Anti-oxidant and anti-hyperglycemic activities of Musa
sapientum root extracts in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences,
38: 109-117.
Ahmed, F. and A. Urooj, 2010. In vitro studies on the hypoglycemic potential of Ficus racemosa stem bark.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 90: 397-401.
Amin, A.H. and D.R. Mehta, 1959. A bronchodilator alkaloid (vasicinone) from Adhatoda vasica Nees. Nature,
184(Suppl 17): 1317.
Chakraborty, A. and A.H. Brantner, 2001. Study of alkaloids from Adhatoda vasica Nees on their
antiinflammatory activity. Phytotherapy Research, 15: 532-534.
Cotton, C.M., 1996. Ethnobotany: Principle and Application, John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp: 399.
342
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
Hafizur, R.M., N. Kabir and S. Chisti, 2011. Modulation of pancreatic -cells in neonatally streptozotocin-
induced type 2 diabetic rats by the ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia fruit pulp. Natural Product
Research, 25: 353-367.
Hasan, M.M., M.E.A. Annay, M. Sintaha, H.N. Khaleque, F.A. Noor, A. Nahar, S. Seraj, R. Jahan, M.H.
Chowdhury and M. Rahmatullah, 2010. A survey of medicinal plant usage by folk medicinal practitioners
in seven villages of Ishwardi Upazilla, Pabna district, Bangladesh. American Eurasian Journal of
Sustainable Agriculture, 4: 326-333.
Hossan, M.S., A. Hanif, B. Agarwala, M.S. Sarwar, M. Karim, M.T. Rahman, R. Jahan and M. Rahmatullah,
2010. Traditional use of medicinal plants in Bangladesh to treat urinary tract infections and sexually
transmitted diseases. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 8: 61-74.
Islam, M.A., M.A. Akhtar, M.R. Khan, M.S. Hossain, A.H. Alam, M.I. Ibne-Wahed, M.S. Amran, B.M.
Rahman and M. Ahmed, 2009. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in normal control and glucose induced
hyperglycemic rats with Coccinia cordifolia L. and Catharanthus roseus L. Pakistan Journal of
Pharmaceutical Sciences, 22: 402-404.
Jahan, F.I., M.R.U. Hasan, R. Jahan, S. Seraj, A.R. Chowdhury, M.T. Islam, Z. Khatun and M. Rahmatullah,
2011. A Comparison of Medicinal Plant Usage by Folk Medicinal Practitioners of two Adjoining Villages
in Lalmonirhat district, Bangladesh. American Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 5(1): 46-66.
Jaiswal, D., P. Kumar Rai, A. Kumar, S. Mehta and G. Watal, 2009. Effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves
aqueous extract therapy on hyperglycemic rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 123: 392-396.
Martin, G.J., 1995. Ethnobotany: a ‘People and Plants’ Conservation Manual, Chapman and Hall, London, pp:
268.
Maundu, P., 1995. Methodology for collecting and sharing indigenous knowledge: a case study. Indigenous
Knowledge and Development Monitor, 3: 3-5.
Mollik, M.A.H., A.I. Hassan, T.K. Paul, M. Sintaha, H.N. Khaleque, F.A. Noor, A. Nahar, S. Seraj, R.Jahan,
M.H.Chowdhury and M. Rahmatullah, 2010b. A survey of medicinal plant usage by folk medicinal
practitioners in two villages by the Rupsha River in Bagerhat district, Bangladesh. American Eurasian
Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 4: 349-356.
Mollik, M.A.H., M.S. Hossan, A.K. Paul, M.T. Rahman, R. Jahan and M. Rahmatullah, 2010a. A comparative
analysis of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal healers in three districts of Bangladesh and inquiry as to
mode of selection of medicinal plants. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 8: 195-218.
Nawaz, A.H.M.M., M. Hossain, M. Karim, M.Khan, R. Jahan and M. Rahmatullah, 2009. An ethnobotanical
survey of Rajshahi district in Rajshahi division, Bangladesh. American Eurasian Journal of Sustainable
Agriculture, 3: 143-150.
Pandey, M. and A. Khan, 2002. Hypoglycaemic effect of defatted seeds and water soluble fibre from the seeds
of Syzygium cumini (Linn.) Skeels in alloxan diabetic rats. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 40:
1178-1182.
Rahmatullah, M., A.Noman, M.S. Hossan, M.H. Rashid, T. Rahman, M.H. Chowdhury and R. Jahan, 2009b. A
survey of medicinal plants in two areas of Dinajpur district, Bangladesh including plants which can be used
as functional foods. American Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 3: 862-876.
Rahmatullah, M., A.A.B.T. Kabir, M.M. Rahman, M.S. Hossan, Z. Khatun, M.A. Khatun and R. Jahan, 2010c.
Ethnomedicinal practices among a minority group of Christians residing in Mirzapur village of Dinajpur
District, Bangladesh. Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 4: 45-51.
Rahmatullah, M., A.K. Das, M.A.H. Mollik, R. Jahan, M. Khan, T. Rahman and M.H. Chowdhury, 2009c. An
Ethnomedicinal Survey of Dhamrai Sub-district in Dhaka District, Bangladesh. American Eurasian Journal
of Sustainable Agriculture, 3: 881-888.
Rahmatullah, M., D. Ferdausi, M.A.H. Mollik, M.N.K. Azam, M.T. Rahman and R. Jahan, 2009a.
Ethnomedicinal Survey of Bheramara Area in Kushtia District, Bangladesh. American Eurasian Journal of
Sustainable Agriculture, 3: 534-541.
Rahmatullah, M., D. Ferdausi, M.A.H. Mollik, R. Jahan, M.H.Chowdhury and W.M. Haque, 2010a. A Survey
of Medicinal Plants used by Kavirajes of Chalna area, Khulna District, Bangladesh. African Journal of
Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 7: 91-97.
Rahmatullah, M., M.A. Khatun, N. Morshed, P.K. Neogi, S.U.A. Khan, M.S. Hossan, M.J. Mahal and R. Jahan,
2010b. A randomized survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal healers of Sylhet Division,
Bangladesh. Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 4: 52-62.
Rahmatullah, M., M.A. Momen, M.M. Rahman, D. Nasrin, M.S. Hossain, Z. Khatun, F.I. Jahan, M.A. Khatun,
and R. Jahan, 2010d. A randomized survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal practitioners in
Daudkandi sub-district of Comilla district, Bangladesh. Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 4: 99-
104.
Rahmatullah, M., M.A.H.Mollik, M.K. Islam, M.R. Islam, F.I. Jahan, Z. Khatun, S.Seraj, M.H. Chowdhury, F.
Islam, Z.U.M. Miajee and R. Jahan, 2010f. A survey of medicinal and functional food plants used by the
343
Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 5(3): 332-343, 2011
folk medicinal practitioners of three villages in Sreepur Upazilla, Magura district, Bangladesh. American
Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 4: 363-373.
Rahmatullah, M., M.A.H. Mollik, M.N. Ahmed, M.Z.A. Bhuiyan, M.M. Hossain, M.N.K. Azam, S. Seraj, M.H.
Chowdhury, F. Jamal, S. Ahsan and R. Jahan, 2010e. A survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal
practitioners in two villages of Tangail district, Bangladesh. American Eurasian Journal of Sustainable
Agriculture, 4: 357-362.
Rahmatullah, M., R.Jahan, M.A. Khatun, F.I. Jahan, A.K. Azad, A.B.M. Bashar, Z.U.M. Miajee, S. Ahsan, N.
Nahar, I. Ahmad and M.H. Chowdhury, 2010g. A pharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants used by
folk medicinal practitioners of Station Purbo Para Village of Jamalpur Sadar Upazila in Jamalpur district,
Bangladesh. American Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 4: 170-195.
Rasineni, K., R. Bellamkonda, S.R.Singareddy and S. Desireddy, 2010. Antihyperglycemic activity of
Catharanthus roseus leaf powder in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Pharmacognosy Research, 2: 195-
201.
Ray, R.B., A. Raychoudhuri, R. Steele and P. Nerurkar, 2010. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) extract
inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation by modulating cell cycle regulatory genes and promotes apoptosis.
Cancer Research, 70: 1925-1931.
Roepke, J., V. Salim, M. Wu, A.M. Thamm, J. Murata, K. Ploss, W. Boland and V. De Luca, 2010. Vinca drug
components accumulate exclusively in leaf exudates of Madagascar periwinkle. Proceddings of the
National Academy of Sciences, USA., 107: 15287-15292.
Sangsuwan, C., S. Udompanthurak, S. Vannasaeng and V. Thamlikitkul, 2004. Randomized controlled trial of
Tinospora crispa for additional therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of the Medical
Association of Thailand, 87: 543-546.
