Mohammad Zashim Uddin
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Title: Medicinal plants for the treatment of diabetes in Bangladesh
Biography
Biography: Mohammad Zashim Uddin
Abstract
The research article highlights the medicinal plants for the treatment of diabetes used by the local people of Bangladesh. The data were collected using semi-structure interviews with key informants during the year of 2014 and 2015. In some cases group discussion and informal conversation with local people were also conducted. A total of 41 medicinal plant species were recorded for the treatment of diabetes. These medicinal plant species assigned to 30 families. Among the medicinal plants, 56% are represented by trees, 25% by herbs, 11% by shrubs and 8% by climbers. The most frequently cited medicinal plants by the local people for the treatment of diabetes were Coccinia cordifolia, Momordica indica, Azadirachta indica, Syzygium cumini,
Terminalia arjuna, Aegle marmelos, Andrographis paniculata, Terminalia chebula, Averrhoa bilimbi and Swietenia mahagani. The data analysis was also confirmed the cultural bound medicinal plants of local people for diabetes treatment using fidelity value index. Among the medicinal plants Abelmoschus esculentus, Carissa carandas, Catharanthus roseus, Citrus aurantiifolia, Citrus grandis, Dillenia indica, Gynura nepalensis, Momordica indica, Swietenia mahagani, Syzygium cumini, Tinospora crispa and Ficus racemosa were attained 100% fidelity level values. Medicinal plants which were most cited by local people for diabetes treatment and medicinal plants with 100% Fl values may further subjected for phytochemical investigation to find pure bioactive compounds for the management of diabetes. As wild medicinal plants are in vulnerable in natural habitats, appropriate policy should be applied for sustainable local resource conservation, economic growth, primary healthcare and community development.