Identification, Prevalence and Use of Medicinal Plants in Fulbaria Upazila of Mymensingh District

Abstract

A study was carried out in Fulbaria Upazila under Mymensingh district covering 70 homesteads from three unions namely, Kaladaha, Enayetpur and Achim-patuli. Data were collected using interview schedule during 23 February to 10 April 2004. To identify the medicinal plants and their uses, a total of 30 medicinal plant species were recorded from the study area. The most prevalent species were Bashok (Adhatoda vasica), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Nishinda (Vitex negundo), Akonda (Calotropic gigantea) Pitraj (Amoora rohituka), Shialmutra (Blumea lacera), Apang (Achyranthes aspera) and Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum). The highest proportion (48.57%) of the respondents reported about moderate use while 31.43 and 20.0% opined high and low use of medicinal plants, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that among the selected characteristics of the farmers such as age, education, farm size, organizational participation, benefits received from medicinal plants, environmental awareness and knowledge about medicinal plants had significant relationship with the use of medicinal plants.