Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

A Randomized Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by Folk Medicinal Practitioners in Six Districts of Bangladesh to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

Mohammed Rahmatullah
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Rownak Jahan
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

A.K. Azad
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Syeda Seraj
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Mahbubur Rahman
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Anita Rani Chowdhury
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Rahima Begum
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dilruba Nasrin
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Zubaida Khatun
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mohammad Shahadat Hossain
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mst. Afsana Khatun
Present address: Dept. of Pharmacy, Lincoln College, Mayang Plaza, Block A, No 1, Jalan SS 26/2, Taman Mayang Jaya, 47301, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Z.U.M. Emdadullah Miajee
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that principally affects synovial joints. About 1% of the world’s population is afflicted with this disease, the affliction being more prominent among people between the ages of 40-50. The disease is also prevalent in Bangladesh. Modern allopathic medicine has no complete cure for the disease; most medicines deal with treatment of accompanying symptoms like pain and inflammation. The predominantly rural population of Bangladesh usually relies on folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) for treatment of this affliction. The Kavirajes use a variety of medicinal plants for treatment and often claim to have 100% success in their treatment. It was the objective of the present study to conduct a survey among the Kavirajes of six districts of Bangladesh (where the disease seemed to be more prevalent). The districts were Brahmanbaria, Bogra, Dinajpur, Khulna, Natore, and Rajshahi. A total of 32 medicinal plants distributed into 23 families were obtained in the present survey. The Araceae and the Solanaceae family contributed three plants each. Leaves constituted the plant part most frequently used (28.8%), followed by fruits (16.9%). The mode of administration was predominantly topical with juice obtained from macerated whole plant or plant part being applied to the affected area(s). In the absence of complete cure of the affliction with allopathic medicine, the medicinal plants obtained in the present survey offer considerable potential for further scientific studies to be carried out. Such studies can lead to discovery of novel phytochemicals, which can offer better treatment options for cure of this affliction.

Keywords: Folk medicine, Medicinal plants, Rheumatoid arthritis, Bangladesh

Location: Six districts of Bangladesh, namely Brahmanbaria, Bogra, Dinajpur, Khulna, Natore, and Rajshahi

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Development of Host and Medicinal Plants

Commodity: Medicinal Plants

Objectives:

It was the objective of the present study to conduct a completely randomized survey of Kavirajes in six districts of Bangladesh (where rheumatoid arthritis is quite common) to learn more about medicinal plants used for treatment of this disease. The expectation was that the medicinal plants used by the Kavirajes can prove to be a useful source for further scientific studies leading to discover of more efficacious drugs.

Methodology:

The present randomized survey was carried out among Kavirajes of six districts of Bangladesh, namely Brahmanbaria, Bogra, Dinajpur, Khulna, Natore, and Rajshahi. Informed consent was obtained from the Kavirajes prior to the survey. Actual surveys were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method as described by Martin (1995) and Maundu (1995). Kavirajes were asked specifically as to whether they know about rheumatoid arthritis and whether they treat the disease on a regular basis. Kavirajes were selected based on their affirmative answer to both questions. The Kavirajes mentioned the plants with which they treated rheumatoid arthritis to the interviewers and took the interviewers to spots from where they collected the plants. The plants were shown along with provision of local names and the parts used. Plant specimens were collected and dried in the field and later brought back to Dhaka for complete identification at the Bangladesh National Herbarium.

Source of Information: Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences, 4(2): 124-127, 2010 ISSN 1995-0748

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The plants obtained in the present survey present considerable potential for discovery of new drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, a debilitating disease affecting millions of people throughout the world. Even if the plants do not prove successful in curing the disease or reversing the degenerative processes but prove successful in treatment of symptoms like severe pain and inflammation that can be considered advancement over the existing drugs, which occasionally give severe adverse effects. Since the Kavirajes have treated patients from ancient times with the medicinal plants obtained in the present survey with claims of success, it is expected that scientific research on these plants can yield fruitful results.

Knowledge Management: Journal