%0 Journal Article
%T A Study on Exploration of Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Rural Community in Bangladesh: Basis for Biodiversity Conservation
%A Md. Habibur Rahman
%J ISRN Biodiversity
%D 2013
%R 10.1155/2013/369138
%X Rural home garden is an important traditional source of medicinal plants for daily curative uses throughout Bangladesh. Such knowledge is continuing from generation to generation without documentation. An ethnobotanical investigation was conducted through focus group discussions and households¡¯ survey accompanied by field observation to document the indigenous knowledge of herbal medicines being used by the rural communities of Comilla district in Bangladesh. A total of 45 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 34 families were found, where trees (37.78%) were the most commonly utilized growth form. Plant resources are used to treat 31 different individual ailments ranging from simple cuts to heart disease. Plants are mainly used to treat dysentery (12 species), cold ailments, cough, and fever (6 species each). For curing ailments, the use of the above ground plant parts was higher (86.44%); particularly fruits (37.29%) and leaves (30.51%) were the most commonly used plant parts. More than half of the medicinal plants are indigenous (71.11%), being edible fruit bearer (48.89%), plants parts suitable for animals and birds (57.78%), and natural regeneration present (64.44%) indicated that medicinal plants play a vital role in biodiversity conservation in the study area. 1. Introduction Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the demand for medicinal plants for use in traditional medicine and contemporary and alternative medicine in both developing and developed countries [1]; thus, a large number of people habitually use such medication because herbal treatment is, in some cases, considered relatively cheap [2]. However, its popularity also stems from the efficacy of the treatment in most cases and relative safety, with few or no side effects. Herbal medicines, because of their decentralized nature, are generally easily and quickly available [3]. Now, both developed and developing countries are involved in plants-based herbal medicine system, as modern pharmaceuticals are not accessible for all [4]. Bangladesh is a country that is considered rich in medicinal plants genetic resources by virtue of its favorable agroclimatic condition and seasonal diversity. With productive soils, a tropical climate, and seasonal diversity, Bangladesh contains about 6500 plants species including bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms; among them, 500 plant species have medicinal values [5] and grow in the country¡¯s forests, wetlands, homestead forests, and even roadside as indigenous, naturally occurring, or cultivated plants [6, 7].
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.biodiversity/2013/369138/