Traditional medicinal plants used for the treatment of diabetes in rural and urban areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh – an ethnobotanical survey

Abstract

BackgroundThe usage of medicinal plants is traditionally rooted in Bangladesh and still an essential part of public healthcare. Recently, a dramatically increasing prevalence brought diabetes mellitus and its therapy to the focus of public health interests in Bangladesh. We conducted an ethnobotanical survey to identify the traditional medicinal plants being used to treat diabetes in Bangladesh and to critically assess their anti-diabetic potentials with focus on evidence-based criteria.MethodsIn an ethnobotanical survey in defined rural and urban areas 63 randomly chosen individuals (health professionals, diabetic patients), identified to use traditional medicinal plants to treat diabetes, were interviewed in a structured manner about their administration or use of plants for treating diabetes.ResultsIn total 37 medicinal plants belonging to 25 families were reported as being used for the treatment of diabetes in Bangladesh. The most frequently mentioned plants were Coccinia indica, Azadirachta indica, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia chebula, Ficus racemosa, Momordica charantia, Swietenia mahagoni.ConclusionTraditional medicinal plants are commonly used in Bangladesh to treat diabetes. The available data regarding the anti-diabetic activity of the detected plants is not sufficient to adequately evaluate or recommend their use. Clinical intervention studies are required to provide evidence for a safe and effective use of the identified plants in the treatment of diabetes.

Diversity, Knowledge, and Use of Plants in Traditional Treatment of Diabetes in the Republic of Benin

“…For example, Citrus aurantiifolia which scored the highest frequency of citation here (34) was also reported by Gbolade (2009) in Nigeria and Tag et al (2012) in Bangladesh. Likewise, Momordica charantia has been reported in many studies throughout the world [Chhetri et al (2005) in India, Gbolade (2009) in Nigeria, Semenya et al (2012a) in South Africa, Kadir et al (2012) and Ocvirk et al (2013) in Bangladesh]. Similarly, the use of Catharanthus roseus (16 citations here) has been reported in other recent studies (Chhetri et al 2005, Grover et al 2002, Kadir et al 2012.…”

“…Consensuses have emerged that identifying the potential plants that can produce such antidiabetic properties must be primary to this goal (Bailey & Day 1989, Ghourri et al 2013. Accordingly, studies have documented the diversity and use of antidiabetic plants by indigenous communities in Asia (Chhetri et al 2005, Grover et al 2002, Kadir et al 2012, Ocvirk et al 2013, Tag et al 2012 and Africa societies (Gbolade 2009, Ghourri et al 2013, Semenya et al 2012a. From these studies, it appeared that people's knowledge about plant and medicinal potentials may vary, even at smaller scales.…”

“…The available information is on the antidiabetic plants sold by plant traders in two communal districts of southern Benin. Hence, other potential groups of informants such as traditional healers, diabetic patients, or agricultural farmers who can readily provide reliable details on potential antidiabetic plants were not considered (Bhattarai et al 2006, Ocvirk et al 2013, Semenya et al 2012b). …”

“…The frequency of citation was computed as the number of citations (for a given species) divided by the number of all citations for all species (Ocvirk et al 2013). The most frequently reported species were identified, and a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed on their relative frequency of citation to examine if the citation was consistent across phytodistricts.…”

Ethnomedicinal Studies of Lalmohan Thana in Bhola District, Bangladesh

“…At present, Unani medicine is practiced in the Indian subcontinent countries of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, the practitioners being known as Hakims. Traditional medicine in Bangladesh is a unique blend of different ethnomedicinal combination [1]. Folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) form the primary healthcare providers to a significant section of the rural and urban population of Bangladesh.…”