• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.605-612
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• 2020

In this study, 11 plant extracts from Bangladesh were used to evaluate the total phenolic and flavonoid content, in vitro antioxidant activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Also, the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line and the neuroprotective effect on H2O2-induced PC12 cells were tested. Our results revealed that Piper betle L. showed the highest total phenolic content (162.2 mg GAE/g extract) among the 11 plants from Bangladesh. Most plants showed strong radical scavenging effects and ferric reducing antioxidant power. Besides, Piper betle L. protected PC12 neuronal cells against H2O2 related oxidative stress in LPS-induced PC12 cells. Regarding the anti-inflammatory effect, Piper betle L. significantly inhibited NO accumulation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Our results provide evidence that Piper betle L. could be useful for the development of functional health foods.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.84-96
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• 2012

A special type of indigenous knowledge on plants utilization and farming system was explored by the Garo tribe community in the North-East region of Bangladesh, which correspond to the severe dependence on homestead forest. Results show that the Garo are totally dependent on the natural resources and that the extent of their dependency is faithfully reflected in their ethno-botanical knowledge. Dependencies that the study addressed focused on various aspects of food, fruit, energy, timber and health care on plants products. Garo tribe community in Bangladesh followed agrosilvipastoral system in their homesteads. They have indigenous hunting procedure to trap the animal in the forest. A total of 9 foods, 15 fruits, 12 energy-producing and 11 timber species was found and recorded that the Garo used in their daily life. Moreover, Garo used 23 medicinal plants species and have vast indigenous knowledge about using herbal medicine in daily health care practices. The Garo women do mostly the household activities, managing homestead forest and helping agricultural field where men perform all hard working activities like ploughing, cutting trees, digging the soil, preparation of horticultural and agricultural land, hunting, etc. The overall quality of life of the Garo could be considerably upgraded if ethno-botanical issues and their own indigenous knowledge will complement with scientific knowledge. The findings of the study conclude that the conservation of the indigenous knowledge of the Garo tribe related to plants utilization can also be turned to good account in forest conservation and is an important tool in this tribal area of Bangladesh.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.79-82
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• 2007

Lac is the dermal secretion of lac insect, Kerria lacca Kerr., which is used to make expensive natural dye, burnish, coating materials, in cosmetics and jewelry industry. Though it is very perspective industry and available of host plants over the country especially in southern districts of Bangladesh, lac cultivation is confined within some northern districts of Bangladesh. Experiment was conducted to find out the possibility of lac cultivation in two southwestern districts of Bangladesh: Khulna and Satkhira compared to Chapainowabgonj, the key lac producing district in Bangladesh, during February-October, 2006. The bark thickness, bark weight of ber plant, ratio of harvested and inoculated lac sticks, harvested raw lac, and harvested processed lac were measured and compared. Statistically, similar performance of lac cultivation was found regarding all parameters in three districts. These results recommended that lac cultivation is possible at the south-western coastal part of Bangladesh.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.217-227
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• 2021

This study is a record of ethnomedicinal knowledge in Begumganj province focussed on medicinal plants and their local uses for primary health care. The aim was to document and preserve the ethnomedicinal knowledge used by traditional healers of Begumganj upazila, Bangladesh, to treat human diseases and evaluate the relative efficacy of the medicinal plants. The uses of medicinal plants were documented as an ethnomedicinal data sheet using direct observation, field interview, plant interview and group interview techniques from December 2012 to January 2014 in the study area. Data were collected from 98 traditional healers through a questionnaire survey and analyzed through informant consensus factor and fidelity level. This study revealed comprehensive relationship among various diseases and families, forms and parts of plants and modes of preparation. Overall, 75 plant species under 71 genera of 47 families were documented, which are used to treat 41 diseases. Data analysis revealed that 41.33%, 14.67%, 36% and 8% of the medicinal plant species were herbs, shrubs, trees, and climbers, respectively. Leaves were the most used parts, followed by stem, root, fruit, bark, latex and rhizome. The most frequently treated diseases were dysentery, rheumatism and skin diseases. This is the first ethnobotanical survey, which recorded the importance of medicinal plants in Begumganj upazila, Bangladesh. This study can contribute to preserving the indigenous knowledge on the traditional use of medicinal plants in this region and new drug development with attracting future generations towards traditional healing practice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.537-542
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• 2002

A study was conducted to evaluate the nutritive potential value of different aquatic plants: duckweed (Lemna trisulaca), duckweed (Lemna perpusila), azolla (Azolla pinnata) and water-hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) from Bangladesh. A wide variability in protein, mineral composition, gas production, microbial protein synthesis, rumen degradable nitrogen and in situ dry matter and crude protein degradability were recorded among species. Crude protein content ranged from 139 to 330 g/kg dry matter (DM). All species were relatively high in Ca, P, Na, content and very rich in K, Fe, Mg, Mn, Cu and Zn concentration. The rate of gas production was highest in azolla and lowest in water-hyacinth. A similar trend was observed with in situ DM degradability. Crude protein degradability was highest in duckweed. Microbial protein formation at 24 h incubation ranged from 38.6-47.2 mg and in vitro rumen degradable nitrogen between 31.5 and 48.4%. Based on the present findings it is concluded that aquatic species have potential as supplementary diet to livestock.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2009

An ethno-medical investigation was carried out to understand the use of plants in indigenous health care practice of the Hajong tribe community in North Eastern Bangladesh. The study of ethnobotany relating to any tribe is in itself a very intricate or long-winded process. The present study was done through structured questionnaires in consultations with the tribal practitioners and has resulted in the documentation of 25 plant species belonging to 21 families including herbs (36%), shrubs (32%), trees (28%) and climber (4%) were frequently used by the Hajong tribe for curing 27 ailments. For curing ailments, the use of aboveground plant parts was higher (86.67%) than the underground plant parts (13.33%). Leaf was used in the majority of cases for medicinal preparation (13 species), followed by fruits (7 species), root/rhizome (4 species), whole plant (3 species) and besides these, seed, latex and bark were used one species each, respectively. The study thus underlines the potentials of the ethnobotanical research and the need for the documentation of indigenous healthcare knowledge pertaining to the medicinal plant utilization for the greater benefit of mankind.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 1995

Seven varieties of rice were cultivated in the field of BLRI of which three were native (Maloti, Nizershail and Chandrashail) and four were improved ($BR_3$, $BR_{11}$, Pasam and Mala). Yields of straw and grain were recorded and the chemical composition of straw was determined. Both the grain (p < 0.05) and straw (p > 0.05) yields were higher in the improved than the native varities. Relationships of straw dry matter yield with the hights of rice plants, tiller numbers, levels of N fertilizer and lengths of stover were found to be statistically insignificant. No significant differences were observed among the varieties in respect of NDF, cell soluble, cellulose and hemicellulose contents. However, modified acid detergent fibre and insoluble ash content were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the local varieties. Except $BR_3$, the estimated ME content of straw was higher in the improved than the native varieties. In respect of yield, chemical composition and energy content improved straws were better and Pasam was the best.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.316-321
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• 2008

A total of 33 extracts representing 26 plant species belonging to 24 families were collected from different regions of Bangladesh, and screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against several pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains using the conventional disc diffusion method. The most potent activity was exhibited by the extracts of Aegiceras corniculatum, Alocasia fornicata, Ceriops decandra, Cuscuta reflexa, Lasia spinosa, Lantana camara, Pandanus foetidus and Xylocarpus granatum. The extracts of Abtilon indicum, Derris trifoliata, Dendrophthoe falcat, Ruellia tuberosa and X. moluccensis did not show any antibacterial properties at test concentrations.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2016

A total of 680 angiosperm plant species under 433 genera of 115 families have been recorded from the Southeast offshore Islands of Bangladesh including Nijhum Dwip, Hatiya, Sandwip, Kutubdia, Maheshkhali, Sonadia and Saint Martin's. Magnoliopsida is represented by 92 families, 344 genera and 546 species, whereas Liliopsida is represented by 23 families, 89 genera and 134 species. Habit analysis shows that herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers were represented by 331, 117, 169 and 63 species respectively. The plant diversity of the southeast offshore islands is under great risk because of many threats including natural and manmade. The aims of the present study are investigation, accumulation and documentation of the angiosperm plants of the area.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2012

An explanatory survey was conducted to assess preference and consumption pattern of horticultural species, their sources, location-wise planting preferences and diversity of these species in the rural homestead forest of the offshore island of Bangladesh. Assessment was done through multistage random sampling. Based on homestead size respondents were categorized into small (<0.05 ha), medium (0.05-0.25 ha) and large (>0.25 ha) and twenty from each category were selected randomly for the study. The study revealed that most of the farmer (75.5%) preferred to plant fruit tree species for future plantation followed by timber species (62.2%). But fruit-bearing plants were being gradually replaced by some exotic timber species such as Swietenia mahagoni, Acacia auriculiformis, Tectona grandis, Eucalyptus spp., etc. Diversity and abundance of fruit species was found higher in almost all homestead. A total of 41 horticultural species were identified and seven horticultural species among them were recognized as the most preferred ones in the study area. Consumption pattern was chiefly to meet the nutritional demand and to gain a quick monetary benefit. Average annual income from horticultural species was 7,183.33 Taka (US$102).