Abstract Detail

Society for Economic Botany/BSA Economic Botany Section

Hossan, Md Shahadat [1], Seraj, Syeda [2], Swarna, Audity [2], Rahman, Mehreen [2], Ishika, Tasneema [2], Biswas, Kakoli Rani [2], Monalisa, Mirza Nipa [2], Khan, Tania [2], Khudha, Md. Monjur-E- [2], Jahan, Rownak [3], Rahmatullah, Mohammed [4].

Medicinal plants consumed by the Bede community by the Turag River at Kamarpara, Tongi, Bangladesh for prevention of diseases.

The Bedes, otherwise known as the River Gypsies, are not widely known outside Bangladesh. They live in small groups throughout the country, and earn their living through selling miscellaneous items, snake catching, and performing various medicinal practices. They reside in boats and travel on the river-ways visiting various villages in turn to ply their trade. Since they lack access to modern medical facilities, they rely on their own healers, who in turn, prescribe medicinal plants for both therapeutic as well as preventive purposes. The objective of the present study was conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Bede healers of the Bede community residing by the Turag River in Tongi area of Bangladesh to gather information on medicinal plants that they consumed at various times of the year for prevention of a number of diseases. These medicinal plants(with diseases that the Bede healers claimed to be prevented) included Colocasia esculenta (blood poisoning), Amaranthus spinosus (pain), Amaranthus tricolor (anemia, debility), Chenopodium album (gastric troubles), Spinacea oleracea (loss of appetite), Enhydra fluctuans (leucorrhea), Xanthium indicum (rheumatic pain), Ipomoea aquatica (wastage of body, prevention of whitish discharge in urine), Brassicanapus (fever, cold, coughs), Cucurbitapepo (debility), Momordica charantia(blood poisoning, skin disorders, jaundice), Cajanus cajan (jaundice), Lagenariaciceria (cardiovascular disorders), Lathyrussativus and Vigna mungo (flatulence, constipation), Leucas aspera (pain), Mollugo spergula (fever,debility, gastrointestinal disorders), Aegialitisrotundifolia (loss of appetite), Nigellasativa (blood poisoning, skin disorders), Citrus grandis (throat pain, fever, debility), and Corchorus capsularis (debility, loss of appetite).

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School, 3B Oxgate Gardens, London, NW2 6EA, United Kingdom
2 - University of Development Alternative, Pharmacy, 80 Satmasjid Road, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
3 - University of Development Alternative, Molecular Medicine and Bioinformatics, 80 Satmasjid Road, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
4 - University of Development Alternative, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, 80 Satmasjid Road, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh

Keywords:
Bedes
Disease Prevention
Ethnomedicine
Bangladesh.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:45 PM
Number: PEN014
Abstract ID:455