Browsing by Author "Nasrin, Dilruba"

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A Comparative Analysis of Medicinal Plants used by Several Tribes of Chittagong Hill Tracts Region, Bangladesh to Treat Helminthic Infections
(The American-Eurasian Network for Scientific Information (AENSI), 2010) Rahmatullah, Mohammed; Jahan, Rownak; Hossan, Md. Shahadat; Seraj, Syeda; Rahman, Md. Mahbubur; Chowdhury, Anita Rani; Miajee, Z.U.M. Emdad Ullah; Nasrin, Dilruba; Khatun, Zubaida; Jahan, Farhana Israt; Khatun, Afsana
Chittagong Hill Tracts region is largely a forested region in the south-eastern part of Bangladesh. A number of tribes are settled in this region. Helminthiasis (infestation of intestine with parasitic worms) is fairly prevalent within the tribes because of poor sanitary conditions. The tribal people visit their own traditional medicinal practitioners to treat helminthic infections, more so because modern medicinal facilities are absent within the forested areas. Tribal traditional medicinal practitioners rely on medicinal plants for treatment of helminthiasis. The objective of the present survey was to conduct a survey among the Chak, Chakma, Marma, Murong, Rakhain and Tonchonga tribal traditional medicinal practitioners to learn more about medicinal plants used by them for treatment of helminthic infections. Helminthic infections are prevalent worldwide and medicinal plants can be a potential source for discovery of more efficacious drugs. A total of 10 plant species distributed into 8 families were observed to be used by the surveyed tribes to treat helminthiasis. The number of medicinal plants used by the Chak, Chakma, Marma, Murong, Rakhain and Tonchonga tribes to treat helminthic infections were respectively, 1, 4, 1, 3, 3, and 3. Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. was used in common by the Chak, Chakma, Rakhain, and Tonchonga tribes. Cassia alata L. was used in common by the Chakma and Murong tribes. Erythrina variegata L. was used in common by the Chakma, Marma, and Murong tribes. The various plant parts used included leaves, roots, barks, flowers, and fruits. The percent use of these plant parts were, respectively, 52.6, 15.8, 21.1, 5.3 and 5.3%. Mostly, a single plant or plant part was used for treatment of helminthiasis, although use of combinations of plant parts was also observed in three instances. There was only one instance where a combination of plant species was used. The Chakma tribe used a combination of leaves of Ananas comosus along with roots of Areca catechu L. and bark of Erythrina variegata for treatment of helminthiasis. The medicinal plants used by the various tribes of Chittagong Hill Tracts present considerable potential for scientific studies towards discovery of more effective medicines to treat helminthiasis, which can be caused by a variety of parasitic worms and is endemic throughout the different countries of the world. Full Text Link: http://scinet.dost.gov.ph/union/Downloads/105-111_224634.pdf
A Comparative Analysis of Medicinal Plants used by Three Tribes of Chittagong Hill Tracts Region, Bangladesh to Treat Leukorrhea
(The American-Eurasian Network for Scientific Information (AENSI), 2010) Rahmatullah, Mohammed; Jahan, Rownak; Hossan, Md. Shahadat; Seraj, Syeda; Rahman, Md. Mahbubur; Chowdhury, Anita Rani; Begum, Rahima; Nasrin, Dilruba; Khatun, Zubaida; Hossain, Mohammad Shahadat; Khatun, Afsana; Jahan, Farhana Israt
Leukorrhea is the flow of whitish, yellowish or greenish discharge from the vagina of a female, which can happen under normal conditions as well as bacterial or fungal infections. Such discharges may originate from the vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, or, most commonly, the cervix. In our ongoing ethnomedicinal surveys among the various tribes and regions of Bangladesh, it was observed that leukorrhea due to infections were common among the tribal women as evidenced by the number of plants used by the tribal medicinal practitioners to treat this infective condition. The objective of the present survey was to learn more about the medicinal plants used for treatment of leukorrhea by the tribal medicinal practitioners of the Chakma, Murong and Tonchonga tribes. All three tribes reside in the southeastern forested region of Bangladesh known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Informed consent was obtained from the tribal medicinal practitioners and interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. It was observed that the tribal medicinal practitioners of the Chakma, Murong, and Tonchonga tribes used 13 plant species distributed into 12 families for treatment of leukorrhea. Roots constituted the major plant part used (53.3%), followed by leaves (20.0%), bark (13.3%), and whole plant and stem (6.7% each). The Kavirajes did not distinguish whether the leukorrhea originated from bacterial or fungal infections of the vagina or was due to other complications of the ovary, fallopian tube or cervix. In general, any sign of especially whitish discharge from the vagina of females was treated as leukorrhea and medications prescribed accordingly. Since the tribal population in their densely forested abodes lack access to modern medicinal facilities, the medicinal plants can form a primary mode of health-care for treatment of this occasionally infective medical condition in females.
A Randomized Survey of Medicinal plants used by Folk Medicinal Practitioners in Daudkandi sub-district of Comilla district, Bangladesh
(The American-Eurasian Network for Scientific Information (AENSI), 2010) Rahmatullah, Mohammed; Momen, Md. Abdul; Rahman, Md. Mahbubur; Nasrin, Dilruba; Hossain, Md. Shahadat; Khatun, Zubaida; Jahan, Farhana Israt; Khatun, Afsana; Jahan, Rownak
Folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) are possibly the most ancient practitioners of traditional medicine in Bangladesh and in general are the primary health-care providers to a majority of the rural population and a substantial segment of the urban population in the country. The major characteristic that separates the folk medicinal practitioners from other systems of existing medicinal practices is their almost exclusive use of simple preparations of medicinal plants for treatment of various ailments. Since the population of Bangladesh is primarily rural, village Kavirajes form the major unit from whom ethnomedicinal data can be obtained. The objective of the present study was to conduct a randomized ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes of four villages, Kalakandi, Gorashal, Kadamtoli, and Gunjar, all villages being situated in Daudkandi sub-district of Comilla district in Bangladesh. Informed consent was obtained from the Kavirajes and surveys were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method, where the Kavirajes took the interviewers to places from where they collected their medicinal plants, pointed out the plants and described their uses. All plant specimens were collected and identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. It was observed that the Kavirajes of the four villages surveyed used 44 plant species distributed into 32 families. The Lamiaceae family contributed 4 plants, followed by the Leguminosae, Rutaceae, and Solanaceae families with 3 plants each. Leaves constituted the major plant part used (45.3%), followed by roots (13.2%), and whole plants, fruits, and seeds (7.5% each). The various ailments treated included respiratory tract problems, gastrointestinal disorders, sexual problems, fever, cardiovascular disorders, mental disease, diabetes, loss of hair, vomiting, menstrual problems, skin disorders, hepatic disorders, piles, leprosy, calcium deficiency, dental diseases, cracked foot, bleeding, insect bites, mumps, rabies, chicken pox, body ache, and bone fracture. Cumulatively, the plants obtained in the present survey present considerable potential for further scientific research towards discovery of lead compounds and more efficacious drugs.
A Randomized Survey of Medicinal Plants used by Folk Medicinal Practitioners in Ten Districts of Bangladesh to Treat Leprosy
(GALE, 2010-05) Rahmatullah, Mohammed; Jahan, Rownak; Azad, A. K.; Seraj, Syeda; Rahman, Md. Mahbubur; Chowdhury, Anita Rani; Begum, Rahima; Nasrin, Dilruba; Khatun, Zubaida; Hossain, Mohammad Shahadat; Khatun, Afsana; Miajee, Z.U.M. Emdad Ullah; Jahan, Farhana Israt
Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by the microorganisms Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. It is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract. The pauci-bacillary form of leprosy is treated with the drugs, rifampicin and Dapsone (diamino-diphenyl sulfone), while the multi-bacillary form of the disease is treated with the drugs rifampicin, clofazimine, and Dapsone. Bangladesh is one of the five countries who contribute to 82% of the sufferers from this disease world-wide. The disease is prevalent especially among the rural and urban poor, who despite provision of modern treatment often visit folk medicinal practitioners, who utilize medicinal plants for treatment of leprosy. Since the above drugs has been reported to have a number of adverse side-effects, it was of interest to document the medicinal plants used to treat leprosy in Bangladesh for such plants can prove to be valuable sources of drugs with less side-effects. Randomized ethnomedicinal surveys were therefore carried out in ten districts of Bangladesh to learn more about medicinal plants used by folk medicinal practitioners. Informed consent was obtained from the practitioners prior to interviews, which were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. The names of 16 plants were obtained, the plants being distributed into 11 families. The Combretaceae family provided the highest number of three plants followed by the Apocynaceae and Fabaceae families with 2 plants each. The various plant parts used to treat leprosy included whole plant, leaves, barks, roots, and seeds. The plants present considerable potential for discovery of novel compounds with less side-effect for treatment of leprosy and can, at least in Bangladesh, become a source of affordable and more easily available drugs.
A survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal practitioners for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in randomly selected areas of four districts of Bangladesh
(The American-Eurasian Network for Scientific Information (AENSI), 2010) Rahmatullah, Mohammed; Jahan, Rownak; Rahman, Md. Mahbubur; Seraj, Syeda; Nasrin, Dilruba; Khatun, Zubaida; Chowdhury, Anita Rani; Azad, A.K.; Khatun, Afsana; Begum, Rahima; Jahan, Farhana Israt
Bangladesh is a small developing country with the majority of population living in over 86,000 villages spread around the country. A substantial portion of the urban population lives in slum areas. Both rural population as well as the urban slum population resides under conditions where proper sanitation conditions are lacking and the drinking water quality is usually poor. As a result various types of gastrointestinal disorders are prevalent throughout Bangladesh. A large number of the rural and urban slum people obtain treatment for various gastrointestinal disorders from folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes), who rely on simple preparations of medicinal plants for treatment. The objective of the present study was to conduct a survey among the Kavirajes of various randomly selected areas in four districts, namely, Rajshahi, Jessore, Tangail, and Dinajpur in Bangladesh. The districts are located, respectively, in the northern, southern, central, and northern part of the country. Informed consent was obtained from the Kavirajes prior to the survey. Interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method, where the Kavirajes took the interviewers to spots from where they collected their medicinal plants, pointed out the plants, and gave their local names and uses. All plant specimens were collected and dried in the field and later brought to Bangladesh National Herbarium, Dhaka for complete identification. Considerable variation was observed in the family and species of medicinal plants used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders by the Kavirajes of the four districts surveyed. The Kavirajes of two surveyed villages of Rajshahi district used 9 plants distributed into 8 families; the Kavirajes of four surveyed villages of Jessore district used 5 plants distributed into 5 families; the Kavirajes of a small town surveyed in Tangail district used 7 plants distributed into 6 families; and the Kavirajes of two villages in Dinajpur district used 25 plants distributed into 18 families. The use of whole plant or plant parts also differed considerably between the Kavirajes of the four districts. The Kavirajes of Rajshahi district used the leaves, roots, fruits, and seeds, while the Kavirajes of Jessore district used only the leaves, stems, and barks of plants. The Kavirajes of Tangail district used mainly the stems followed by roots, while the Kavirajes of Dinajpur district used mostly the leaves of medicinal plants followed by fruits. The survey highlights the considerable differences in medicinal plant usage by Kavirajes of different areas of Bangladesh. At the same time, the survey points out the diversity of plant species present in the country form treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, which comprises of a number of ailments prevalent worldwide and suggests that considerable potential exists for modern scientific studies to be carried out on the medicinal plant species in the quest for better drugs.
Efficacy of zinc in the treatment of bronchiolitis and prevention of wheezing respiratory illness in children less than two years old
(2005) Nasrin, Dilruba; Brooks, W. Abdullah
Medicinal plants used by folk medicinal practitioners in three villages of Natore and Rajshahi districts, Bangladesh
(The American-Eurasian Network for Scientific Information (AENSI), 2010) Rahmatullah, Mohammed; Jahan, Rownak; Azad, A.K.; Seraj, Syeda; Rahman, Md. Mahbubur; Chowdhury, Anita Rani; Begum, Rahima; Nasrin, Dilruba; Khatun, Zubaida; Hossain, Mohammad Shahadat; Khatun, Afsana; Miajee, Z.U.M. Emdadullah
Folk medicinal healers (Kavirajes) form the primary health-care providers to the predominantly rural population residing in over 86,000 villages throughout Bangladesh. The Kavirajes treat various ailments with whole plants or plant parts from which they make simple decoctions or pastes, which are administered orally or topically. Their mode of treatment is simple, yet considerable variations exist between Kavirajes of even adjoining villages as to the species of plant chosen for treatment of any given ailment. The objective of the present study was to conduct a survey on folk medicinal use of plants in the village of Islampur in Natore district, Bangladesh and the villages of Itaghati and Ataibidir in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh, which are adjoining districts. Informed consent was obtained from the Kavirajes and surveys were carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method, where the Kavirajes pointed out medicinal plants during field-walks with the interviewers and pointed out their uses. A total of 87 medicinal plants distributed into 44 families were observed to be used by the Kavirajes of the three villages surveyed. The Fabaceae family contributed the highest number of plants (9), followed by the Solanaceae family (7) and the Euphorbiaceae family with 5 plants. Whole plants constituted the majority of uses (27.0%), followed respectively, by leaves (22.7%), roots (14.9%), seeds (9.2%), and fruits (8.5%). Other plant parts used included stems, barks, flowers, and tubers. The various ailments treated included helminthiasis, sexual disorders, respiratory tract disorders, pain, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, urinary tract disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, snake bites, yellow fever, cancer, alopecia, cuts and wounds, paralysis, burns, malaria, cholera, gall bladder enlargement, diabetes, heart diseases, weakness, piles, obesity, placentitis, eye disorders, and hepatitis. Since a number of modern allopathic medicines owe their discovery to studies of medicinal practices of indigenous peoples, cumulatively these medicinal plants present significant potential for further scientific research leading to discovery of lead compounds and more efficacious drugs.
Search for Phytoremediating Plants in a Textile Dye Polluted Area of Dhaka City, Bangladesh
(The American-Eurasian Network for Scientific Information (AENSI), 2014-06-28) Seraj, Syeda; Azam, F.M. Safiul; Jahan, Farhana Israt; Nasrin, Dilruba; Jahan, Sharmin; Rahman, Shiblur; Morshed, Md. Tanvir; Rahmatullah, Mohammed
Phytoremediation is a powerful yet affordable tool for clean-up of various contaminated sites through use of plants. Many plants exist that can not only survive in polluted areas but also hyperaccumulate industrial and domestic pollutants, which can range from heavy metals to oil and grease. Bangladesh is noted for its garment industries, but suffers from the problem of having areas, which are contaminated with textile dye wastes. Such an area exists in Savar of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. A survey was carried out in the area to search for plants growing within the textile dye contaminated site with the further objective determining the phytoremediation capacity of the plants through available database searches. Our survey found 15 plants distributed into 10 families to be growing in the contaminated area. Literature search showed that nearly all the plants have reported phytoremediation capacities, and as such can possibly provide an easy and affordable way to clean up textile dye contaminated sites.