Abstract Detail

Society for Economic Botany/BSA Economic Botany Section

Rahman, Md.Sahidur [1], Seraj, Syeda [2], Chowdhury, Anita Rani [3], Jahan, Farhana Israt [3], Khudha, Md. Monjur-E- [3], Khan, Md. Shamiul Hasan [3], Aporna, Sadia Afrin [3], Jahan, Rownak [3], Rahmatullah, Mohammed [3].

A survey of medicinal plants used by the traditional healers of the Bede community of Bangladesh for treatment of rheumatism.

Rheumatism is widely prevalent particularly among the elderly people through out the world. It is a debilitating disease, causing not only intense pain but also may result in loss of movement and stiffness of joints. The Bedes are an indigenous community of Bangladesh, who unlike other indigenous people is nomadic in nature. They live on boats and make their living by traveling often on the river-ways and selling various merchandise to the village people. Their other occupations include snake catching and traditional medicinal practices. The Bede healers rely mostly on medicinal plants for treatment of various ailments. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Bede healers to gather information on medicinal plants used by them for treatment of rheumatism. It was observed that the plants used by the Bede healers for treatment of rheumatism included Justicia adhatoda, Crinum asiaticum, Datura stramonium, Calotropis gigantea, Terminalia arjuna, Bombax ceiba, Sansevieria roxburghiana, Mangifera indica, Ananas squamosa, Carissa carandas, Thevetia peruviana, Leucas aspera, Ricinus communis, Xanthium indicum, Leonurus sibiricus, Brassica napus, Chrozophora rottleleri, Cassia fistula, Sida acuta, and Careya arborea. Since there are no modern allopathic drugs that can cure rheumatism, the afore-mentioned plants offer potential for discovery of novel compounds to treat this debilitating disease.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Development Alternative, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, 80 Satmasjid Road, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
2 - University of Development Alternative, Faculty of Life Sciences, House No. 78, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, 1205, Bangladesh
3 - University of Development Alternative, Faculty of Life Sciences, House No. 78, Road No. 11A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh

Keywords:
Ethnomedicine
Bedes
Bangladesh
rheumatism.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:45 PM
Number: PEN011
Abstract ID:437