Medicinal Plants Used by Chakma Tribe in Hill Tracts Districts of Bangladesh
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Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 6(3), July 2007, pp. 508-517 Medicinal plants used by Chakma tribe in Hill Tracts districts of Bangladesh M Atiqur Rahman1*, SB Uddin & CC Wilcock2 1Department of Botany, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh; Department of Plant and Soil Science, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 23UU, UK E-mail: [email protected] Received 11 July 2005; revised 21 December 2006 An ethnobotanical survey was carried out on the utilization of medicinal plants by Chakma tribe living in the remote hilly forest areas of Hill Tracts districts of Bangladesh by interviewing traditional herbalists, called Baiddaya, and various elderly men and women. Indigenous knowledge of herbal medicine remains an integral part of the healthy system among chakmas in the Hill Tracts area. 198 plant species with their local (Chakma) names were recorded for their uses for curing at least 78 ailments. These species, belonging to 74 families, are listed in alphabetical order, each with local names, methods of preparation, route of administration and uses. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Ethnobotany, Indigenous knowledge, Chakma tribe, Hill Tracts, Bangladesh IPC Int. Cl.8: A61K36/00, A61P1/02, A61P1/08, A61P1/10, A61P1/16, A61P17/00, A61P17/10, A61P17/14, A61P19/00, A61P25/00, A61P25/08, A61P29/00, A61P31/00, A61P31/12, A61P33/06, A61P35/00, A61P35/04, A61P39/02 The use of medicinal plants as herbal remedy is a part healthcare and is still dependent on it. Although it is of traditional heritage in many rural areas of yet difficult to get modern medical facilities for their Bangladesh, especially among forest inhabitants. The day-to-day problems, the advancement of indigenous knowledge of use of plant resources for modernization including establishment of community the cure of various human ailments, being used since health services in the remote hill areas is in rapid immemorial time, are still believed to be persisted progress. However, it is alarming that the Indigenous among both Bengali and tribal communities of Knowledge and practices are gradually disappearing Bangladesh living in Chittagong and Hill Tracts day by day. The need for documentation of such districts1.2. Among 19 major tribes of Bangladesh, 14 Indigenous Knowledge System of herbal medicine namely, Chakma, Marma, Murong, Thanchunga, available among both bangalis and tribal communities Tripura, Chack, Bhome, Pangkhoa, Kheyang, is being realized, and in recent years, some work has Rheyang, Lushai, Kuki and Khumi living in the Hill been done4-9. The complete inventory and Tracts districts3,4. Among them, Chakma is the largest documentation of this indigenous knowledge system tribe dominating by 1,50,000 populations. The Hill (IKS) has not yet been made. However, research Tracts of Bangladesh, which includes three districts, under AU-CU Biodiversity Link Project towards the viz, Bandarban, Khagrachari and Rangamati, are completion of inventory and documentation of this located in the Southeast corner of country with Kaptai IKS from tribal communities is in progress. watershed area between 21°25′ and 23°45′ N and between 91°45′ and 92°52′E. It is bordered by Tripura Methodology and Mizoram of India in the North and Northeast, An investigation was conducted among chakmas Lushai Hills and Arakan hill tracts of Myanmar in the under AU-CU Biodiversity Link Project l. The study Southeast and Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar districts in area includes the entire Hill Tracts of Bangladesh the West. It is situated with tropical rain forests and consisting of Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari rich biodiversity. The tribal people of these areas are districts. Documentation was made by taking random mostly dependent on plant resources for their food interviews of the herbalists, elderly men and women. and medicine. Chakma tribe has its own traditional Plants used by them were collected from the wild and system of herbal treatment for their primary preserved at the Herbarium of Chittagong University ______________ (HCU) as voucher specimens. Local or chakma names *Corresponding author of plants and methods of use were recorded during RAHMAN et al.: MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY CHAKMA TRIBE OF BANGLADESH 509 interviews. The authenticity of information on each Allophyllus triphyllus (Burm.f.) Merr. (Sapindaceae); plant was confirmed through repeated interviews. For Dhendrema, Jhandhara; Azadirachta indica A. Juss identification, plants were studied taxonomically by (Meliaceae); Neem; Hymenodictylon excelsum using a Long Arm Stereomicroscope at the Herbarium (Roxb.) Wall. (Rubiaceae); Pattyo mormoijja of Chittagong University and compared with the Uses: To treat goiter, paste of fresh leaves of A. identified specimens available at DACB, HCU and triphyllus and H. excelsum is applied to the affected Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong area; to treat scabies, infusion of A. triphyllus and A. (BFRIH). Local Floras were also consulted for current indica leaves is used for washing the infected part botanical nomenclature. daily twice for at least three days. Enumeration Allophyllus villosa (Roxb.) Blume (Sapindaceae); One hundred ninety eight plant species belonging Then brama to 74 families, used by Chakma tribe with their local Uses: For the treatment of partial deafness, bark names, preparation, route of administration and uses extract is given as eardrop. have been enumerated below: Abelmoschus moschatus (L.) Medik. (Malvaceae); Alpinia conchigera Griff. (Zingiberaceae); Konigaas and Thladiantha cordifolia (Blume) Cogn. Khetranga; Carex continua C. B. Clarke (Cucurbitaceae); Paranga ludi (Cyperaceae); Daraglick Uses: Paste of fresh leaves of both plants is applied to Uses: To treat dysentery, A. conchigera rhizome juice the affected areas for rapid healing of cuts and extract is taken orally twice daily. To stop abdominal wounds. pain, 2 teaspoonfuls juice of A. conchigera rhizome and C. continua root is taken thrice a day. Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. (Mimosaceae); Kanta naksha Alpinia nigra (Gaertn.) Burtt (Zingiberaceae); Uses: To relieve headache, a fresh leaf paste mixed Bhulchengi, khetranga with mustard oil is rubbed on the forehead. Uses: Root extract is taken thrice daily to treat jaundice; for gastric ulcers, decoction of root is taken Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae); Upolengra, twice daily. Ublengra, Ublengra Uses: To treat cancer, juice extracted from fresh Amaranthus spinosus L. (Amaranthaceae); Kanta leaves is taken orally twice daily; to treat boils, fresh narich; Mallotus roxburghianus Muell. – Arg. leaf paste is supplied to the affected areas; a piece of (Myrsinaceae); Ketaki, Hur al ladi freshly cut root is inserted to the vagina and kept for Uses: Decoction of whole plant of A. spinosus is 2-3 hrs until abortion takes place. drunk twice daily to treat malarial fever. To stop Adina sessilifolia Hook.; f. (Rubiaceae); Kam gaas bleeding from the nose and mouth, decoction of roots Uses: To treat skin infections, fresh leaf paste is of both plants is drunk immediately. applied to the affected area. Amischotolype mollissima (Bl.) Hassk. Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. (Rutaceae); Bel (Commelinaceae); Cheyadiba; Physalis minima L. Uses: Fruit juice is given to drink frequently as a (Solanaceae); Pitting gul gaas, Pitus remedy for dysentery. Uses: To treat malarial fever, paste of fresh leaves of both plants mixed with onion extract is taken thrice a Aglaonema hookerianum Schott (Araceae); day. Sikkachalal Uses: For conjunctivitis and constipation, root Amomum aromaticum Roxb. (Zingiberaceae); infusion is taken orally. Palachevi; Boehmeria glomerulifera Miquel (Urticaceae); Urmurpata Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth. (Mimosaceae); Uses: To treat mumps, rhizome extract of A. Sikloroi aromaticum is taken thrice daily; to treat anaemia, Uses: For intestinal worms, fresh leaf juice is taken at infusion of fresh leaves of both plants is used in night before sleep. washing the whole body. 510 INDIAN J TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, VOL 6, No. 3, JULY 2007 Amomum dealbatum Roxb. (Zingiberaceae); Blumea clarkei Hook. F. (Asteraceae); Monchoytta, Palachengay Tora gas; Phrynium imbriactum Roxb. Uses: To treat abscesses, rhizome extract is applied to (Marentaceae); Keyang Kaytta; Unidentified species, affected areas. Khedom gaas Uses: To treat bone fractures, paste of leaves of these Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze (Lamiaceae); Jangli plants is applied to affected areas and bandaged harinchi, Horinshing tightly with a piece of coarse cloth for several days. To treat child fever, leaf extract is given thrice daily. To treat jaundice, pills prepared from the leaf paste are taken thrice daily. Antidesma roxburghii Wall. ex Tul. (Euphorbiaceae); Sadiraissya Blumea lanceolaria (Roxb.) Druce (Asteraceae); Uses: To treat dyspepsia, fresh root juice is given Barotora gaas twice daily. Uses: Leaf paste diluted in cold water is applied on Ardisia paniculata Roxb. (Myrsinaceae); head and forehead to treat fever; leaves are applied Barochulliya; Persia villosa (Roxb.) Kosterm directly to the forehead of children. (Lauraceae); Sigrishik Uses: To treat madness, extract of roots of both the Borreria pusilla (Wall.) DC. (Rubiaceae); Bishmijal, plants is given to drink three times a day. Mijlick kher Uses: To treat bone fracture, crushed plants are Ardisia solanacea Roxb. (Myrsinaceae); Barochulliya applied to affected areas and to treat scabies, leaf Uses: To treat boils, paste of fresh leaves is applied to paste is applied to affected