Microsoft Word - S-2. Zashim.doc Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 15(1): 67-72, 2008 (June) © 2008 Bangladesh Association of Plant Taxonomists - Short communication MEDICO-BOTANICAL REPORT ON THE CHAKMA COMMUNITY OF BANGLADESH SNIGDHA ROY, MOHAMMAD ZASHIM UDDIN1, MD. ABUL HASSAN AND M. MATIUR RAHMAN2 Department of Botany, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh Keywords: Chakma tribe, Ethnobotany, Bangladesh Bangladesh is the abode for 21 ethnic communities (Khaleque 1995). Among them, the Chakma tribe is the largest and the most dominant one. Total population of Chakma is about 253,000 (Tripura 1994) of which more than 90 percent live in Rangamati and Khagrachari districts. Even in the recent past, the Chakma people living in Bangladesh used to meet their daily needs mostly from natural forest products. For the primary health care, still most of them depend upon surrounding plants and plant products. The knowledge of such health care system is passed from generation to generation in verbal form by traditional medicine men, local headmen and elderly persons in their community. However, currently the indigenous healthcare knowledge of Chakma tribe is in great risk because of various threats. If the present trend of eroding situation prevails, the valuable knowledge possessed by the Chakma people on indigenous medicinal plants is going to be lost forever without being properly recorded and documented. Studies on medico-botanical information of ethnic communities in Bangladesh are at initial stage. Some of the articles published in this field include Mia and Huq (1988), Alam (1992), Alam et al. (1996), Khisa, B. (1996), Khisa, S.K. (1998), Rahman and Uddin (1998), Rahman et al. (1998), Uddin (2001), Uddin et al. (2001), Khan et al. (2002), Yusuf et al. (2002), Chakma et al. (2003), Rahman (2003) and Uddin et al. (2004, 2006). None of these articles cover the entire medico-botanical documentation of the Chakma people of Bangladesh. In order to address this issue, the present article attempts to present some new medico-botanical information of Chakma people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Rangamati and Khagrachari districts (latitude 21º91′-23º75′ N and longitude 91º75′- 92º42′ E) were selected for the study as the majority of the Chakma community live there. Six field trips were conducted in the study area in the years 2004 and 2006. Information on the medicinal plants was gathered by interviewing Chakma traditional medicine men, local headmen and elderly persons in the community. Local names of each medicinal plant with plant part(s) used and the names of diseases or symptoms treated were recorded. This information was confirmed by asking two or more persons of the same community. The collected botanical specimens were identified at the Department of Botany of the University of Dhaka and Bangladesh National Herbarium. The voucher specimens are stored at Bangladesh National Herbarium for future reference. 1Corresponding author. E-mail: zashim07@yahoo.com 2Present address: House 64, Road 9A, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh. 68 ROY et al. A total of 90 plant species have been recorded which are used in the treatment of different ailments by the Chakma people. For each species, scientific, local and family names, part(s) used and diseases treated are presented in the Table 1. Out of the total 90 species, three species, viz. Brownea coccinea Jacq., Gomphostemma parvifloria Wall. and Pyrrosia piloselloides M.G. (Pteridophyte) were recorded to have medicinal value for the first time from Bangladesh (Hassan and Khan 1986, 1996, Mia and Huq 1988, Alam 1992, Alam et al. 1996, Yusuf et al. 1994, 2006, Chowdhury et al. 1996, Ghani 1998, Uddin et al. 2001, 2004, 2006, Khan et al. 2002, Chakma et al. 2003, Rahman et al. 2003). The list of medicinal plants of Chakma people presented in this article is not a complete list. To make a complete list further long term survey is necessary. Table 1. A list of medicinal plants used by the Chakma people of Bangladesh. Scientific names of medicinal plants are arranged in alphabetical order. Sl. No. Scientific name Chakma name Family Part(s) used Disease(s) or symptom(s) to be treated 1. Abelmoschus moschatus Medik. Kona-gach Malvaceae Leaves, seeds Stomach ache 2. Abroma augusta L. Gash-chola Sterculiaceae Calyx, seeds Snake bite 3. Achyranthes aspera L. Ubo-langara Amaranthaceae Leaves Stomach ache, abortion 4. Adhatoda zeylanica Medik. Basok-pata Acanthaceae Leaves Cold, cough 5. Ageratum conyzoides L. Monimozza- khar Asteraceae Leaves Wounds, skin diseases 6. Alocasia indica (Rox.) Scott. Man-kuchu Araceae Leaves Rheumatism, constipation 7. Aloe indica L. Ghrito-kumari Liliaceae Leaves Wounds, burning 8. Alpinia conchigera Griff. Khetranga Zingiberaceae Rhizomes Wounds 9. Amaranthus viridis L. Bhul-maresh Amaranthaceae Leaves Fever 10. Ampelygonum chinensis (L.) Lindly Mono-eja-dar Polygonaceae Whole plant Antiseptic 11. Ananus sativus Schult. Anash Bromeliaceae Unripe fruits Anthelmintic 12. Angiopteris evecta (Frost.) Hoffm. Hadibo-muro Angiopteridaceae Stems (caudex) Blood cancer 13. Anisomelis indica (L.) Kuntze Jharbo-horin sing Lamiaceae Leaves Gout, rheumatism 14. Aphania danura (Roxb.) Radlk. Gach-challa Sapindaceae Roots bark Dysentery 15. Areca catechu L. Subori Arecaceae Roots Urination problem 16. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. Nim Meliaceae Leaves Skin diseases 17. Baliospermum montanum (Willd) Muell. Shapan-pan Euphorbiaceae Leaves Antidote 18. Bambusa tulda Roxb. Midinga-bash Poaceae Leaves Diabetes 19. Barleria lupulina Lindl. Sornomukhi Acanthaceae Whole plant Skin diseases 20. Bombax ceiba L. Shimul-tuolo- gach Bombacaceae Roots, flowers Impotency, pox, aphrodisiac, food 21. Brownea coccinea Jacq. Kurochit-sak Fabaceae Roots, leaves Gynecological problem 22. Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth. Dumisumi Fabaceae Leaves Jaundice, diabetes (Contd.) MEDICO-BOTANICAL REPORT ON THE CHAKMA COMMUNITY 69 Table 1 contd. Sl. No. Scientific name Chakma name Family Part(s) used Disease(s) or symptom(s) to be treated 23. Calamus latifolius Roxb. Karat-bet Arecaceae Stems Fracture 24. Calotropis gigantea R. Br. Akonda Asclepiadaceae Leaves, latex Asthma, wounds 25. Cardiospermum helicacabum L. Kataboksa- shak Sapindaceae Whole plant Measles 26. Cassia hirsuta L. Sabo-daru Fabaceae Leaves Snake bite 27. Celosia argentea L. Hiang-morish Amaranthaceae Leaves Ear diseases 28. Celosia cristata L. Radakuro-phul Amaranthaceae Leaves Wounds 29. Centella asiatica Urban. Thankuni Umbelliferae Whole plant Blood dysentery 30. Centipeda minima (L.) A.Br. Hatchuni Asteraceae Whole plant Nasal problem 31. Clerodendrum indicum (L.) Kuntze Noli-gach Verbenaceae Roots Stop bleeding 32. Clerodendrum viscosum Vent. Veck-gach Verbenaceae Leaves Sores, diabetes 33. Cnesmone javanica Bl. Chotta Euphorbiaceae Leaves Snake bite, blood cancer 34. Coccinia cordifolia Cogn. Tela-kuchu Cucurbitaceae Whole plant Diabetes, burning sensation 35. Crotalaria pallida Ait. Kudugo- jhunjhuni (1) Fabaceae Roots, leaves Stomach pain, urination problem 36. Curcuma caesia Roxb. Kala-holod Zingiberaceae Rhizomes Anti-poison, sore throat 37. Curcuma longa L. Holod Zingiberaceae Flowers, rhizomes Blood purifier, tonic 38. Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. Dhan-sabarang Poaceae Roots, leaves Cold, stomach ache 39. Cyperus diffusus Vahl Perazary Cyperaceae Leaves Antiseptic 40. Delima sarmentosa L. Ulu-ludi Dilleniaceae Roots, leaves Fever 41. Desmodium triquitrum DC. Komorsina Fabaceae Leaves Paralysis 42. Diploclisia glaucescens (Bl.) Diels Sonattola Menispermaceae Leaves Rheumatic pain 43. Dysophylla crassicaulis Benth. Shel-pata-richa Lamiaceae Leaves Menstrual problem (stop bleeding) 44. Entada phaseoloides (L.) Merr. Gila Fabaceae Seeds Poisoning, play game 45. Eupatorium odoratum L. Assam-pata Asteraceae Leaves Wounds 46. Ficus racemosa L. Jagga-dumur Moraceae Fruits Invigorative 47. Gomphostemma parviflorum Wall. Kudugo- jhunjhuni (2) Lamiaceae Roots Irregular menstruation 48. Hibiscus radiatus Cav. Sorbo-amila Malvaceae Leaves Jaundice 49. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Amila Malvaceae Leaves Catarrh 50. Hoya acuminata (Wight) Benth. Pasha-mash Asclepiadaceae Leaves Ear diseases 51. Kalanchoe pinnata (Lamk.) Pers. Pathor -kuchi Crassulaceae Leaves Ear lesion, urination problem 52. Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standly Kudugulo Cucurbitaceae Roots Throat diseases 53. Leea macrophylla Roxb. Baggach Leeaceae Roots, leaves Fracture, rheumatism 54. Lygodium flexuosum Sw. Kogti-jurgo Lygodiaceae Leaves Sores 55. Mangifera indica L. Am Anacardiaceae Seeds Diabetes, tonic (Contd.) 70 ROY et al. Table 1 contd. Sl. No. Scientific name Chakma name Family Part(s) used Disease(s) or symptom(s) to be treated 56. Melastoma malabathricum L. Moha-putting- gulo Melastomaceae Roots Stomach ache 57. Moghania macrophylla Kuntze Kodorothang- gach Fabaceae Leaves Gastric 58. Moringa oleifera Lamk. Sajna Moringaceae Stems bark Back ache, rheumatism 59. Musa sapientum L. Kola-gach Musaceae Leaves Tumor 60. Mussaenda glabra Vahl Bissollo- karani/ Gach- ranirtak Rubiaceae Whole plant Menstrual problem 61. Ocimum americanum L. Sabarang Lamiaceae Whole plant Stimulant 62. Ocimum gratissimum L. Mitha- phul/Ram-tulsi Lamiaceae Leaves Nasal diseases, skin diseases 63. Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent. Fona-gulogach Bignoniaceae Stem bark Jaundice 64. Oxalis corniculata L. Amrul Oxalidaceae Whole plant Constipation 65. Paederia foetida L. Pada-bash-ludi Rubiaceae Leaves Joint pain, rheumatism 66. Peliosanthes teta Andrews Dhub-melony Liliaceae Roots Wounds 67. Pentapetes phoenicea L. Dibuzza-phul- gach Sterculiaceae Leaves Boils 68. Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus N.E. Vargi-nola Acanthaceae Leaves Gout, rheumatism 69. Phylanthus emblica L. Amoloki Euphorbiaceae Fruits Constipation 70. Piper nigrum L. Gul-morish Piperaceae Roots, leaves Fever, cough, catarrh, rheumatism 71. Plumbago indica L. Rangajat aguna- teda Plumbaginaceae Roots Stomach ache 72. Plumbago zeylanica L. Chita-mul Plumbaginaceae Roots Stomach ache 73. Plumeria rubra L. Bak-phul Apocynaceae Roots, stems Blood cancer 74. Polygonum flaccidum Meissn. Biskatali Polygonaceae Leaves Sores and boils, antiseptic 75. Pothos scandens L. Komorsina Araceae Stems, leaves Fracture 76. Premna esculenta Roxb. Lalom-pata Verbenaceae Leaves Appetizer 77. Psidium guajava Batt Goium Myrtaceae Leaves Dysentery, toothache 78. Pyrrosia piloselloides M.G. Tenga-chara Polypodiaceae Leaves Ear ache 79. Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. ex Kurz Surchan Apocynaceae Roots Blood pressure, stomach ache 80. Ricinus communis L Varon pata Euphorbiaceae Leaves Boils, gynecological problem 81. Rubus hexagynus Roxb. Kata-chola Rosaceae Roots Fever 82. Solanum myriacanthum Dun. Karnafully Solanaceae Fruits Aphrodisiac 83. Taebernaemontana divaricata Bl. Katto-dongor Apocynaceae Roots Hiccup 84. Terminalia bellerica Roxb. Boragulo Combretaceae Stems barks, roots Blood dysentery, urination problem 85. Terminalia chebula Retz. Hottail Combretaceae Fruits Blood dysentery, stomach ache 86. Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) Schum. Goi-phul Apocynaceae Roots Urination problem (Contd.) MEDICO-BOTANICAL REPORT ON THE CHAKMA COMMUNITY 71 Table 1 contd. Sl. No. Scientific name Chakma name Family Part(s) used Disease(s) or symptom(s) to be treated 87. Typhonium trilobatum (L.) 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