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143 A merican-Euras ian Journal of Sus tainable A griculture, 3(2): 143-150, 2009 ISSN 1995-0748 © 2009, A merican Euras ian Network for Scientific Information T his is a refereed journal and all articles are professionally screened and reviewed

ORIGINAL ARTICLES An ethnobotanical survey of Rajshahi district in Rajshahi division, Bangladesh A.H. Md. Mahabub Nawaz, Maruf Hossain, Masud Karim, Mujib Khan, R o wn a k Jahan, Mohammed Rahmatullah Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative Dhanmondi, Dhak a-1205, Bangladesh A .H. M d. M ahabub Nawaz, M aruf Hos s ain, M as ud Karim, M ujib Khan, Rownak Jahan, M ohammed Ra h matullah.; A n ethnobotanical s urvey of Rajs hahi dis trict in Rajs hahi divis ion, Banglades h, Am.Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 3(2): 143-150, 2009 ABS TRACT Rajs hahi dis trict falls within the Rajs hahi divis ion of Banglades h. It is bordered by Naogaon dis trict on the north, Kus htia dis trict on the s outh, Natore dis trict on the eas t and Nawabganj dis trict on the wes t. Banglades h has 64 dis trict s ; the predominantly rural populations of thes e dis tricts rely on traditional medicinal practitioners for treatment of various ailments . Thes e practit ioners are experts in the knowledge of medicinal plants and their properties . Each has his own formulations and dos ages bas ed on the practitioner’s individual experience, and this information is pas s ed from generation to generation and not us ually s hared with other practitioners . W e are conducting a dis trict-wis e ethnobotanical s urvey of medicinal plants us ed to treat various ailments , which varies cons iderably from dis trict to dis trict. Interviews were conducted with a number of traditional medicinal practitioners in Rajs hahi dis trict us ing a s emi-s tructured ques tionnaire. Detailed information was collected as to plants , plant parts or combination of plants us ed, formulation of medicines , dos ages as well as ailments for which the plants are us ed. Plant s pecimens as pointed out by the traditional medicinal practitioners were collected and brought to Banglades h National Herbarium for complete identification. Detailed information was obtained on 32 plant s pecies belonging to 24 families . Thes e plant s pecies (ailments for which they are us ed given within parenthes es ) include Achyranthes aspera (jaundice), Amaranthus spinosus (dys entery, rabies ), Vinca rosea (diabetes ), Typhonium trilobatum (body ache), Calotropis procera (edema in pregnant women), Heliotropium indicum (antidote to pois oning, bone fracture), Cannabis sativa (ins omnia, coughs , s exual s timulant), Terminalia bellerica (los s of appetite, acidity, hair los s , intes tinal worms ), Terminalia chebula (los s of appetite, acidity), Commelina bengalensis (pois oning), Coccinia cordifolia (diarrhea, blood dys entery, dizzines s from s uns troke), Emblica officinalis (diges tive aid, acidity), Swertia chirata (fever), Ocimum sanctum (malaria, coughs , gonorrhea), Clerodendrum viscosum (s tomach pain, acidity, fever), Clitoria ternatea (urinary problems ), Cassia alata (low s perm count, s kin dis orders ), Cassia tora (flatulence, abdominal pain from intes tinal worms , blood pois oning, eczema), Erythrina variegata (eye itch), Abutilon indicum (lack of breas t developme n t in fe ma les ), Sida cordifolia (nerve weaknes s , low s perm count, cloudy urine), Azadirachta indica (gall bladder and pancreatic dis orders , chicken pox), Moringa oleifera (cancer), Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (fever), Piper longum (hypertens ion), Cynodon dactylon (bleeding from mouth, s tomach dis orders , wounds , blood with vomit, irregular mens truation), Aegle marmelos (indiges tion), Scoparia dulcis (oral les ions , frequent urination in children), Datura metel (s wellings , pain, abs ces s ), Nicotiana plumbaginifolia (piles ), Abroma augusta (weaknes s , hypertens ion) and Centella asiatica (blood dis orders , fever). Key words: Ethnobotanical s urvey, medicinal plants , Banglades h, Rajs hahi. Introduction Rajs hahi dis trict falls within the Rajs hahi divis ion of Banglades h. It is bordered by Naogaon dis trict on the north, Kus htia dis trict on the s outh, Natore dis trict on the eas t and Nawabganj dis trict on the wes t. The major city in the

Corresponding Author: A.H. M d. M ahabub Nawaz, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh Email: [email protected]

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dis trict is Rajs hahi; otherwis e, the population is predominantly rural. For treatment of various ailments , the rural population of Banglades h relies on local traditional medicinal practitioners , known as “Kavirajes ” or “Vaidyas ” and “Hekims ”, whos e medicinal formulations are generally bas e d o n A y urvedic or Unani principles . A lthough the A yurvedic and Unani s ys tems may form the bas is of medical formulations , in reality the Kavirajes or Vaidyas have their own formulations bas ed on medicinal plants . The formulations are pas s ed from generation to generation; with each s ucces s ive generation, more formulations may be added bas ed on the Kaviraj or Vaidyas pers onal experiences and knowle d g e o f medicinal plants . The Kaviraj may be cons idered an expert on medicinal plants and us ually pos s es s cons iderable knowledge on the medicinal values of plants , plant parts or combination of plants . Bes ides Kavirajes or Vaidyas , the common rural hous ehold als o is aware of the medicinal values of at leas t s ome plants , which they regularly us e for treatment of common ailments . Since this knowledge is not made available through written treatis es , we undertook an ethnobotanical s urvey amongs t the Kavirajes and local people of rural areas in Rajs hahi dis trict to gain information on medicinal plants traditionally us ed to treat various ailments . Materials and Methods Extens ive interviews were conducted of the Kavirajes with the help of a s emi-s tructured ques tionnaire. The bas ic method followed was the guided field work as mentioned by M artin (1995) and M aundu (1995). Briefly, Kavirajes were taken on field trips to areas from where they us ually collected plants , while at the s ame time ques tions were as ked and information noted. The information collected included formulations , ailments for which the formulations were us ed and dos ages . Information was als o collected on any particular s eas on for collecting plants , plant parts us ed and whether combination of plants were us ed to treat any particular ailment or if any s ingle plant was us ed to treat multiple ailments . For the latter, interviews were conducted as to any s pecific plant part us ed for the ailment(s ) concerned. Plant s pecimens were photographed as well as collected, pres s ed and dried in the field. Local names of the plants were obtained from the informant and double-checked with other members of the community. Plant s pecimens were identified at the Banglades h National Herbarium, where voucher s pecimens were depos ited. Res ults and Dis cus s ion Plants and their distribution into families A total of 32 plants were identified by the Kavirajes as to their being us ed for medicinal purpos es . Thes e plants were dis tributed into 24 families . The highes t number of medicinal plants (fo u r) b e longed to the Leguminos ae family, followed by A maranthaceae, Combretaceae, Lamiaceae, M alvaceae, and Solanaceae families (two plan t s e ach). Other families included A pocynaceae, A raceae, A s clepiadaceae, Boraginaceae, Cannabac e a e , Commelinaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae , Ge ntianaceae, M eliaceae, M oringaceae, Oleaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rutaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Umbelliferae families . The res ults are s ummarized in Table 1. Plant parts used and ailments Leaves formed the part of the plant mos t frequently us ed (44.4%), followed by s tems (17.8%) and roots (15.6%). The bark was the part leas t us ed, being only 4.4%. Out of the 32 plants obs erved in the pres ent s urvey, 13 plants (40.6%) had us e of multiple parts like leaf and s tem or leaf and s eed. Seventeen plants (53.1%) were us ed to treat multiple ailments , while 15 plants (46.9%) were us ed as remedy for a s ingle ailment. The mos t frequent ailment treated was gas trointes tinal dis orders , which included dys entery, blood dys entery, diarrhea, s tomach pain, indiges tion, acidity, helminthias is , and piles . A total of 11 plants (34.4%) were us ed to treat the above manifes tations of gas trointes tinal dis orders . Three plants each were us ed to treat fever and s kin dis orders like eczemas and abs ces s es . A lthough the number of ailments treated were not many, it is interes tin g t h at the Kavirajes of Rajs hahi dis trict has plant remedies for s ome endemic dis eas es like malaria and diabetes , as well as plant remedies for rabies , hypertens ion, gall bladder and pancreatic dis orders , and cancer. M edicinal plant remedies als o exis t for ins omnia, hair los s , jaundice, bone fractures , s permatorrhea, chicken pox, pain, wounds , eye itch, and oral les ions . One plant was us ed as s ex s timulant. Discussion Some of the us es of medicinal plants by the Kavirajes of Rajs hahi dis trict are validated by modern s cientific res earch. A number of plants are als o us ed in the traditional medicinal s ys tem of other countries . For ins tance,


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Table 1: Medicinal plants used by traditional healers of Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. Botanical name Family Local name Part(s) used Ailment Achyranthes Amaranthaceae Chorchori, Dhaner Root Jaundice. Root paste is added to water till the water aspera L. shish, Bilai hachra becomes milky in color. About 250 ml of the water is to be taken orally in the morning and evening for 7 days. Amaranthus Amaranthaceae Kanta khura 1. Root (½root for 1. Dysentery (with mucus in stool). Root paste is mixed spinosus L. adults, ¼ root for with sugar water and made into balls. T o be taken with children) 2. Root sugar water thrice daily. 2. Rabies. Black pepper is mixed with root paste (1:3) and taken twice daily in the morning and evening. Vinca rosea L. Apocynaceae T ara ful Leaf with stem Diabetes. About 120g of leaves and stems are cut into pieces and boiled in 1 kg water. T he water is taken once daily. Typhonium Araceae Kochu Leaf, stem Body ache. T he leaves and stems are mixed with black trilobatum (L.) pepper, garlic, chili pepper and mustard oil and made into Schott a paste and eaten. Calotropis Asclepiadaceae Akhunde, Dudaun Leaf Edema in pregnant women. Leaves are warmed with a procera (Ait.) little mustard oil and applied to areas of edema. Ait. f. Heliotropium Boraginaceae Hatishur Leaf, stem 1. Antidote to poisoning. Juice from leaf and stem (250 indicum L. ml) is given once daily. 2. Bone fracture. Paste of leaves along with ginger is applied to fractures. T o be kept for 24 hours. Cannabis Cannabaceae Shider gach Leaf, seed Insomnia, narcotic, mucus, coughs, sex stimulant. Leaves sativa L. and seeds are dried, powdered and made into balls of about 1/16 kg each. One ball is taken daily for coughs, mucus, as a narcotic and to induce sleep. T he seeds are taken for sexual stimulation. Terminalia Combretaceae Horitoki 1. Fruit 1. Stimulation of appetite, digestive aid, acidity. Fruits ofs bellerica Gaertn. 2. Fruit Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellerica and Terminalia 3. Seed chebula are soaked in water and the water drunk every morning. 2. Hair loss. T he fruits are boiled in water and the decoction mixed with coconut oil and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed is applied to the head. 3. Intestinal worms. Pulp of seeds are mixed with pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) leaf juice and taken 2-3 times. Terminalia Combretaceae Bohera Fruit Stimulation of appetite, digestive aid, acidity. Fruits of chebula Retz. Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellerica and Terminalia chebula are soaked in water and the water drunk every morning. Commelina Commelinaceae Kola duma Young leaves External poisoning. Paste of young leaves is mixed with bengalensis L. lime and a little amount of salt and massaged on the affected area twice daily in the morning and evening. Coccinia Cucurbitaceae T elakucha 1. Leaf, stem 1. Diarrhea. Juice of young leaves (1/32 kg) is taken with cordifolia (L.) 2. Leaf a little sugar every morning till cure. Cogn. 3. Leaf 2. Blood dysentery. 1/32 kg of leaf is taken and juice squeezed out. T he juice is heated in an iron pot and mixed with 1/64 kg of sugar. T o be taken every morning on an empty stomach. 3. Dizziness from sunstroke. Juice from leaves mixed with a little water is applied to forehead and top of head. Emblica Euphorbiaceae Amloki Fruit Stimulation of appetite, digestive aid, acidity. Fruits of officinalis alt. Emblica officinalis, Terminalia bellerica and Terminalia Phyllanthus chebula are soaked in water and the water drunk every emblica L. morning. Swertia chirata Gentianaceae Chirata Stem Old fever. T he stems are soaked in water overnight. T he (Roxb.) Buch. decoction is strained through cloth and the water (1/8 kg) taken with a little crystalline sugar daily on an empty stomach. Ocimum Lamiaceae T ulshi 1. Leaf 1. Prevention of malaria. 1/32 kg of juice from leaves, sanctum L. 2. Leaf when taken every day in the morning on an empty 3. Seed stomach prevents malaria. 2. Coughs and mucus in children. T wo tablespoon full of leaf juice mixed with ten drops of honey is given to children twice daily in the morning and evening till cure. 3. Gonorrhea. Seeds are soaked in water for about 30 minutes till the water turns the color of egg-white. 1/32 kg of crystalline sugar is mixed with the water. T o be taken once daily on an empty stomach.

Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 3(2): 143-150, 2009 Table: Continue Clerodendrum viscosum Vent.

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Lamiaceae alt. Verbenaceae

Bandi gach

Young leaves

Clitoria ternatea L.

Leguminosae

Aparajita

Root

Cassia alata L.

LeguminosaeCaesalpinioideae

Daud gach

Leaf, seed

Cassia tora L.

LeguminosaeCaesalpinioideae

Jhonjhonae, Chakunde

Leaf

Erythrina variegata L. Abutilon indicum Sweet var. welwitschii E. G. Baker Sida cordifolia L.

LeguminosaePapilionoideae Malvaceae

Madarer gach

Bark

Bon tepari

Leaf, stem, root

Malvaceae

Berela

Leaf, bark of roots

Azadirachta indica A.Juss.

Meliaceae

Neem

1. Leaf 2. Leaf 3. Bark

Moringa oleifera Lam. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Moringaceae

Sajina

Ripe leaves

Oleaceae alt. Verbenaceae

Sheuli

Leaf

Piper longum L.

Piperaceae

Pipil

Leaf (from old plants)

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. var. glabratus(Steud.) Chiov.

Poaceae

Durba ghas

1. 2. 3. 4.

Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. Scoparia dulcis L.

Rutaceae

Bel

Unripe fruit

Scrophulariaceae

Mishri dana, Chini dana, Bon-hina

1. Root 2. Root

Leaf Leaf Leaf Leaf, stem

Stomach pain, acidity, fever. T he young leaves are blended with salt and molasses. A small amount is taken thrice daily on an empty stomach. Urinary problems. T he roots are boiled in water and the water strained through cloth. 1/32 kg of the strained water is to be taken for 7 days in the morning and evening. Blood purification, increase of sperm count, skin disorders. Juice of leaves is taken to purify blood. Dried leaves are powdered and mixed with coconut oil followed by application to affected areas during skin disorders. Half teaspoon full of powdered seeds is taken with a little honey twice daily to increase sperm count. Flatulence, abdominal pain from intestinal worms, blood poisoning, eczema. Leaf juice is taken as remedy for flatulence, abdominal pain from intestinal worms, and blood poisoning. Paste of leaves is mixed with coconut oil and applied to affected area as remedy for eczema. Eye itch. Paste of bark with mustard oil is applied to a candle flame and then put on the eye(s). Breast development in females. Decoction of leaf, stem and root is made in water. 15 ml of the decoction is to be taken thrice daily for 1 month. Nerve weakness, low sperm count, clearing of urine. 100 ml of leaf juice is taken once every morning for a month as remedy for nerve weakness and low sperm count. Bark of root is powdered and one teaspoon full of powder taken with 15-20 ml of cold water daily for clearing of urine. 1. Gall bladder and pancreatic disorders. Leaves are boiled in water and the juice (1/32 kg) taken every morning on an empty stomach for 7 days. 2. Chicken pox. Leaves are grounded along with rhizomes of Curcuma longa and applied to pustules for 2-3 days. 3. Intestinal worms. 1/32 kg of bark is blended with lime and salt and the mixture taken on an empty stomach in the morning for 7 days Cancer. T he ripe leaves are blended to obtain juice. One cup of the juice is taken every morning and evening. Fever. 1/32 kg of leaf juice of Centella asiatica is mixed with 1/32 kg leaf juice of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis and taken every morning on an empty stomach till cure. Hypertension. Paste of leaves is mixed with water. Half glass of water is to be taken twice daily (morning and night). 1. Bleeding from the mouth, stomach disorders. One cup of leaf juice is given to stop oral bleeding. Four cups of leaf juice is given as remedy for stomach disorders. 2. W ounds. Leaves are chewed and the paste applied to wounds once to stop bleeding. 3. Blood with vomit. 5/32 kg of leaf juice is mixed with 1/32 kg honey and taken every morning and evening for one month. 4. Menstrual problems, if menstruation is not in time. 1/16 kg of leaves and stems are powdered and mixed with 1/16 kg of rice powder and made into a paste. Pills are made from the paste. One pill is taken daily for 7 days. Indigestion. T he inner part of one fruit is burned slightly over a fire and then taken for indigestion. 1. Oral lesions (within the mouth). T he roots are grounded, mixed with extract of Areca catechu (local name: khayer), and turned into a paste following thorough grinding. T he paste along with three teaspoon full honey is applied twice daily to lesions within the mouth in the morning and night. 2. Frequent urination in children. Leaves of the plant along with betel leaves are mixed with molasses and a glass of water and left overnight. T he mixture is taken the following morning.

Am.-Eurasian J. Sustain. Agric., 3(2): 143-150, 2009 Table: Continue Datura metel L.

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Solanaceae

Dhutura

Leaf

Swellings, pain, abscess. Leaf juice is applied to swellings and pain. Leaf juice is mixed with clarified butter (ghee) and applied around the abscess once.

Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv. var. bigelovii T orr. Abroma augusta Jacq.

Solanaceae

Bon tamak

Root

Piles. Paste of roots is mixed with black pepper (3:1) and taken on an empty stomach till cure. Note that beef should not be eaten during this period.

Sterculiaceae

Ulot kombol

Stem

Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.

Umbelliferae

T hankuni

1. Leaf

W eakness, hypertension. Fresh stems are cut into small pieces and soaked in water overnight. T he water is drunk the following morning. T o be done till cure. 1. Blood disorders. 1/8 kg of leaves are boiled with water. 1 cup of the decoction is taken with 5/32 kg honey every morning and evening. 2. Fever. 1/32 kg of leaf juice of Centella asiatica is mixed with 1/32 kg leaf juice of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis and taken every morning on an empty stomach till cure.

Amaranthus spinosus, which is us ed as a remedy for dys entery by Kavirajes of Rajs hahi is als o cons idered an anti-diarrheic medicinal plant in Thailand . Extract of the whole plant has als o been reported to s how inhibitory activity agains t the intes tinal protozoan paras ite, Blastocystis hominis (Sawangjaroen and Sawangjaroen, 2005). The leaves and s tems of V i n c a rosea are us ed by Rajs hahi Kavirajes to control diabetes . Hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects in normal and s treptozotocin-induced diabetic rats have been reported for leaves of this plant (Chattopadhyay et al., 1991; Chattopadhyay, 1999a; A hmed et al., 2007); hypoglycemic activity was als o detected in dichloromethane:methanol extract (1:1) of leaves and twigs (Singh et al., 2001). Hypoglycemic activity of the flowers and leaves have als o been s hown in alloxan-induced diabet ic rats and rabbits (Ghos h and Suryawans hi, 2001; Kar et al., 2003; Nammi et al., 2003). Heliotropium indicum, which is us ed by Kavirajes for treatment of bone fracture and as an antidote to pois oning is us ed as a traditional medicine in M ali as remedy for malaria, abdominal pain and dermatitis (Togola et al., 2005). However, wound healing activity of the plant has als o been reported in rats us ing excis ion and incis ion wound models (Reddy et al., 2002). Naturally occurring cannabinoids pos s es s anti-tus s ive activity (Gordon et al., 1976). Thus the us e of Cannabis sativa by the Kavirajes for mucus and coughs has s cientific validity. Terminalia bellerica, Terminalia chebula and Emblica officinalis are us ed by Kavirajes for s timulation of appetite, as diges tive aid, and for acidity. It is interes ting that thes e plants have been s hown to demons trate healing activities agains t indomethacin-induced gas tric ulceration in rats (Bhattacharya et al., 2007). A dditionally, extracts of Terminalia che b u l a h a s been reported to have antibacterial activity agains t Helicobacter pylori, a known agent for gas tric ulcer (M alekzadeh et al., 2001). In the A yurvedic s ys tem of traditional medicine, Terminalia chebula is given for improving gas trointes tinal motility. This has been s c ie n t ifically validated (Tamhane et al., 1997). However, a modified indigenous Siddha (a s ys tem of traditiona l me d ic in e in India) formulation Kalpaamruthaa, containing dried powder of Emblica officinalis fruit amongs t other ingredients has been demons trated to have ulcerogenic properties (M ythilypriya et al., 2007). On the other hand, anti-ulcerogenic properties of methanolic extract of the plant have als o been reported for different acute gas tric ulcer models in rats (Sairam et al., 2002). Swertia chirata is us ed as a remedy for old fever, which could be s ymptomatic of malaria. The plant has been s hown in in vitro experiments to pos s es s antimalarial activity (Bhat and Surolia, 2001). Swertia chirata has herbal applications in areas of Banglades h as a bitter, as a tonic, as a s tomachic and as a febrifuge. The medicinal plant Ocimum sanctum is us ed as remedy for malaria, coughs and mucus in children, and gonorrhea by the Kavirajes . The antibacterial a ctivity of the plant has been demons trated (Phadke and Kulkarni, 1989; Singh et al., 2005). M ore importantly, direct anti-tus s ive activity of the plant has been s hown in guinea pigs (Nadig and Laxmi, 2005); the plant als o demons trated inhibitory activity agains t Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Shokeen et al., 2005). Clitoria ternatea, the roots of which are us ed as remedy for urinary problems reportedly has diuretic, antiinflammatory, analges ic and antipyretic properties (Piala et al., 1962; Devi et al., 2003). Cassia alata, which is us ed for s kin dis orders in Rajs hahi is als o cons idered a medicinal plant of dermatologic importance in Nigeria (A jos e, 2007). A dditionally, the plant or plant parts pos s es s antimicrobial and a n t ifu n g a l a ctivity, which can account for its us e in dermatology (Palanichamy and Nagarajan, 1990; Ibrahim and Os man, 1995; Khan et al., 2001; Somchit et al., 2003). Cassia tora leaf methanolic extract pos s es s es antinociceptive and s mooth mus cle contracting activities (Chidume et al., 2002), which may account for its us e by the Kavirajes for abdominal pain. The bark of Erythrina variegata is us ed for eye itches , which can be a res ult of bacterial infections . Is oflavonoids have been is olated from this plant, which are active agains t cariogenic oral bacteria (Sato et al., 2003). The leaves of Sida cordifolia reportedly contain cons tituents with CNS pharmacological effects (Franco et al., 2005). The Kavirajes us e the leaves of this plant as remedy for nerve weaknes s . The anthelmintic properties of the plant Azadirachta indica us ed locally as remedy for intes tinal worms has been demons trated in humans , s heep, and


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mice (Githiori et al., 2003, 2004; Cos ta et al., 2006; Jabbar et al., 2006; Chagas et al., 2008). The leaves of the plant has antihyperglycemic effect and is us ed in a herbal formulation for diabetes (Chattopadhyay, 1999b; M utalik et al., 2005), which pos s ibly jus tifies the us e of leaves of this plant by Kavirajes during pancreatic dis orders . Moringa oleifera, which is us ed as remedy for cancer in Rajs hahi dis trict, has been s hown to pos s es s an antitumor promoter (Guevara et al., 1999), radioprotective effect (Rao et al., 2001), and chemomodulatory effect on hepatic carcinogen metabolizing enzymes and s kin papillomagenes is (Bharali et al., 2003). The plants anticancer potential has als o been docume n t e d (Co s ta-Lotufo et al., 2005). The leaves of Nyctanthes arbor tristis are us ed as remedy for fever. Scientific s tudies have s hown that extract of leaves from this plant has analges ic and antipyretic activities (Saxena et al., 1987). A ntibacterial activity has als o been reported for flowers (Khatune et al., 2001). A ny s cientific s tudies on hypotens ive effects of Piper longum (us ed in Rajs hahi dis trict to treat hypertens ion) are unknown. However, the hexanic extract of leaves and s tems of Piper truncatum, a related s pecies has been s hown to induce in vitro vas odilatory activity in rats (Raimundo et al., 2004). In other parts of Banglades h and India, the dried fruit s pikes are cons idered to have s timulant, carminative, laxative and s tomachic properties . The whole plant is cons idered by tribal people in India to be us eful in s plenic dis orders , cholera, dys entery, as thma, cough and bronchitis . The unripe fruits of Aegle marmelos are us ed to treat indiges tion. The plant has been reported to have anti-ulcer activity (Goel et al., 1997) and antimicrobial activity agains t multi-drug res is tant Salmonella typhi (Rani and Khullar, 2004), while antidiarrheal activity has been reported for root extract (M azumder et al., 2006). Not only the unripe fruits , the ripe fruits are als o commonly eaten in Banglades h a s d iges tive aid and as remedy for indiges tion, flatulence, and diarrhea. Scoparia dulcis is widely dis tributed in many tropical countries in the world and is found in abundance in South A merica and the A mazon rainfores t. In A yurvedic medicine, the plant is widely us ed to keep diabetes under control. A ntimicrobial activity has been reported for this plant (Latha et al., 2006), which may explain its us e in Rajs hahi for oral les ions . It is interes ting that in the traditional medic in e o f other countries , the plant als o has us e as an antimicrobial agent. The Tikuna Indians make a decoction of the plant for was hing wounds , in the rainfores ts of Guyana, indigenous tribes us e a leaf decoction as an antis eptic was h for wounds , and indigenous peoples in Brazil us e the leaf juice to was h infected wounds . Centella asiatica (s ynonym H y d rocotyle asiatica L.), which is us ed to treat blood dis orders in Rajs hahi has been reported to p o s s e s s cardioprotective activity (Pragada et al., 2004). The plant als o demons trated a protective role agains t adriamycininduced myocardial failure in rats (Gnanapragas am et al., 2007); anti-thrombotic active cons tituents have als o been is olated from this plant (Satake et al., 2007). Conclusion The traditional healers (Kavirajes or Vaidyas ) of various dis tricts of Banglades h practice a form of medicine, which for want of a better term may be clas s ified as folk medicine. This form of medicinal practice has roots in the A yurvedic s ys tem of medicine but has been cons iderably altered over time bas ed on the practitioner’s own experiences and knowledge of medicinal plants . Folk medicine lacks a modern s cientific bas is . However, as obvious from the Dis cus s ion, the us e of a cons iderable number of medicinal plants by the Kavirajes has been validated by later res earch. It is als o interes ting that many of the medicinal plants us ed in Rajs hahi dis trict are in us e in t h e traditional medicinal s ys tem of other countries and in s eparate continents . It is thus important that modern s cientific s tudies be done on thes e medicinal plants s o that the plants may be us ed as remedies in a more rational and s cientific manner. References A hmed, A .U ., A .H . F e rd o u s , S.K. Saha, S. Nahar, M .A . A wal and F. Parvin, 2007. Hypoglycemic effect of Catharanthus roseus in normal and s treptozotocin-induced diabetic rats . 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