Ethnobotanical Study of Some Selected Plants Used in the Treatment of Skin and Diabetic Diseases in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study investigated the indigenous people’s belief on some medicinal plants those commercially used to cure different types of skin diseases as well as diabetic diseases in Bangladesh. It was observed that around 400 to 1000 medicinal plants available in Bangladesh listed in different database. In the present study ten potential medicinal plants were selected based on their skin diseases curing ability and the anti-diabetic properties through ethnobotanical study. Around 176 peer reviewed publications connected to 24 major tribes’ lives in Bangladesh were studied during selection of plants. Ultimately fresh leaves of Neem (Azadirachta indica), Babla (Acacia nilotica), Pathorkuchi (Bryophyllum pinnatum), Sojna (Moringa oleifera) and Asham lota (Mikania cordata); fresh stems of Shornolota (Cuscuta reflexa); dried leaves of Papaya (Carica papaya) and Telakochu (Coccinia grandis); dried seeds of Ajawin (Carum copticum) and finally Kalo Jera (Nigella sativa) were enrolled in the present study. The pharmacological actions of these selected plants were assessed scientifically under a controlled laboratory setup. A comparatively noble and green extraction procedure named “Aqueous Ultrasound Assisted Extraction Method” was used for the preparation of crude extract which provided significantly high yield percentages. More than 30% yield was observed from the dried plant’s parts of N. sativa, C. grandis and C. papaya through this extraction procedure. Around 15% extraction was observed from fresh leaves of A. nilotica, A. indica and C. reflexa, however, still higher than the expected (10%) yield. Promising extraction also found from M. oleifera (17.42%), M. cordata (18%), C. copticum (19.14%) and B. pinnatum (21.59%). Most of the crude extracts were found acidic in nature except C. papaya and C. grandis. It was observed that M. cordata and C. copticum added more basic compounds during the extraction procedure observed by the pH changes of the solution before and after ultrasound treatment. Drastic pH changes were observed after ultrasound treatment on the plant material and indicated the nature of compound extracted from the plant parts. Crude extracts were dried by conventional water bath at 550C and preserved in a glass vial under freezing condition for further use. Crude extracts were undergone different phytochemical and pharmacological studies. Gram positive bacteria S. aureus, S. pyogenes and gram negative bacteria E. coli as well as fungi C. lunata, F. chlamydosporum and M. furfur were enrolled in the present study having distinct association on different types of skin diseases. Seven more pathogenic bacteria and 2 fungi were also included in the presents study for comparison of the antimicrobial activities. Antimicrobial activities were conducted by disc diffusion method and found promising antimicrobial activity of Azadirachta indica (against S. aureus), Acacia nilotica (against S. pyogenes and S. aureus), Bryophyllum pinnatum (against S. pyogenes, S. aureus and E. coli), Cuscuta reflexa (against S. aureus and S. pyogenes) and Moringa oleifera (against S. pyogenes). Comparatively poor sensitivity was observed against three enlisted fungi. These plants may be considered potential antimicrobial agents and may be suitable for curing different types of microorganism infected skin diseases. Three types of hypoglycemic studies were conducted to observe the anti-diabetic properties of the plants. Most of the enrolled plants were showed distinct properties on lowering blood glucose level of the dexamethasone induced diabetic mice. However extracts of A. indica, B. pinnatum, C. reflexa, C. papaya and C. grandis were showed very promising anti-diabetic effect almost similar to the standard anti-diabetic drug glibenclamide. From cytotoxic study all crude extracts were proved safer than the standard drug erythromycin and tetracycline. A purification stages were also performed by using a basic partition theory, and was observed that sufficient purifications were performed which may be considered for large scale purification including industrial setup. The whole study was conducted by minimum impact on the environment. From this study we justified the use of some ethnobotanicals for the treatment of different types of pathogenic skin diseases and diabetic disease.