Keywords

Phytotherapy; Folk medicine; Chandpur; Bangladesh; Skin disorders

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) has found a high prevalence of skin diseases in the general population of developing countries, some diseases being more prevalent in children. The major skin disorders found in children, as reported by the World Health Organization, include pyoderma, tinea capitis, scabies, viral skin disorders, pediculosis capitis, dermatitis, and reactions due to insect bites [1]. Besides skin problems caused due to ingestion of arsenic-contaminated food and water, skin diseases are common in the rural and urban slum population of Bangladesh because of lack of proper toilet facilities and unhygienic conditions of living. A study of skin patients at Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh revealed that the common skin infections are eczema, fungal infections, scabies, and pyodermas [2].

Eczema is a collective term for some medical conditions that can cause the skin to get irritated or inflamed, the most common form of eczema being known as atopic dermatitis. The disorder has no total cure in allopathic medicine; however symptoms can be alleviated with various types of drugs including corticosteroids. Common superficial fungal infections of the skin in children include tinea capitis, tinea corporis, and pityriasis versicolor [3]. Scabies is caused by a parasite. Pyodermas are bacterial infections of the skin, which bacteria may include among others, various species of Staphylococcus.

From ancient periods, people in Bangladesh have been used to medicines, which are now referred to as alternative, complementary or traditional medicines. This has continued even at present after introduction of allopathic medicines. A number of factors are behind these. First, traditional medicines have proven their efficacy over hundreds and thousands of years. Second, a large number of people of the country do not have access to modern doctors or cannot afford doctor’s fees or the cost of allopathic medicines. Third, a number of allopathic medicines give adverse effects. All of the above factors have led to the use of traditional medicines even in present times.

Two other problems have arisen, which necessitates discovery of new drugs. The first is the emergence of new types of diseases like bird flu and other viral diseases. The second is the growing resistance of various disease-causative agents to available allopathic drugs. As such, new drugs are necessary, and one of the time-proven methods to discover new drugs is conducting ethnomedicinal surveys among traditional medicinal practitioners. Towards that, we had been conducting ethnomedicinal surveys among folk medicinal practitioners (FMPs) and tribal medicinal practitioners for quite some time [4-13]. The objective of the present study was to document the plants used by FMPs in Chandpur district, Bangladesh to treat skin disorders.

Materials and Methods

The survey was conducted in Chandpur district, Bangladesh (area 189.90 square kilometers, located in between 23°12' and 23°20' north latitudes and in between 90°45' and 90°55' east longitudes). Initially visits were made to randomly selected villages of the district and presence of any practicing FMP(s) in the village determined. A total of four FMPs from four different villages were selected based on their claim that they treated skin disorders. Claims of the FMPs were authenticated by the villagers prior to any further deliberations. Informed consent was obtained from each FMP to disseminate any information obtained.

Actual interviews and collection of plant specimens were conducted through the guided field-walk method of Martin [14] and Maundu [15]. In this method, the FMPs took the interviewers through daytime guided field-walks through areas from where they collected their plants or plant parts and the plant(s) were shown to the interviewers. Plant specimens were photographed and collected on the spot and brought back for identification by a trained botanist at the Medical Plant Collection Wing of the University of Development Alternative. Interviews of the FMPs were conducted in Bengali, which was spoken fluently by all.

Results and Discussion

Medicinal plants and diseases treated by the FMP

The FMPs were found to use a total of 10 plants distributed into 10 families in their formulations, which were 9 in number. These formulations were used to treat skin diseases like acne, eczema, scabies, ringworm, pimples, and dark spots. The results are shown in Table 1. Interestingly, one plant, Blumea lacera was used to treat skin tumors, tumors being defined by the FMP as unexplained swellings on the skin surface. The FMPs did not understand the causative agent(s) behind various skin infections like ringworm or other fungal or bacterial skin infections. Their treatments were based on visual inspection of the skin. As a result, most of the infections were simply termed “charma rogh”, charma being Bengali for skin, and rogh being Bengali for disease or disorder.

Table 1: Medicinal plants and formulations used by folk medicinal practitioners of Chandpur district, Bangladesh to treat skin disorders.

Blumea lacera leaf paste has applications among the Santal tribe living in Susunia Hill of Bankura District, West Bengal, India to stop bleeding from wounds [16]. Heliotropium indicum (Figure 1) is used in cases of dermatitis; leaf paste is used for the treatment of skin infections [17]. Traditional healers in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, India, use the plant to cure skin diseases; leaves are used to treat skin infection in Nicaragua [18]. Ethnomedicinal application of Cuscuta reflexa for treatment of skin diseases has been reviewed [19].

Figure 1: Heliotropium indicum.

The skin disease(s) curing property of Senna alata (Figure 2) leaves has also been reviewed [20]. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of leaf extract have also been demonstrated [21]. Extract of Lawsonia inermis (Figure 3) leaf showed inhibitory activity against a skin pathogen, Streptococcus pyogens [22]. Various parts of Azadirachta indica including leaves are known for antidermatophytic activity (a number of diseases caused by bacteria and fungus) [23]. Tinospora cordifolia is a wellmentioned plant in Ayurveda texts for treatment of skin diseases [24]. The antifungal activity of Aegle marmelos (Figure 4) leaf extract against dermatophytic fungi has been demonstrated [25]. Solanum hannemanii seems to be a unique (previously unreported) plant used against skin diseases by the FMPs and so merits further scientific research. Curcuma longa has from ancient periods used for skin care including brightening of skin, improving skin texture, and against various skin diseases; the use of rhizomes of the plant to cure ringworm, eczema and other parasitic skin diseases has been reviewed [26].

Figure 2: Senna alata.

Figure 3: Lawsonia inermis.

Figure 4: Aegle marmelos.

Taken together, it is quite evident that FMPs of Bangladesh can possess considerable knowledge of the therapeutic properties of plants. Scientific evidences support the use by the FMPs and tribal medicinal practitioners, as observed and analyzed in a number of our studies before [27-30]. The medicinal plants of Bangladesh can play a vital role in the discovery of lead compounds and new drugs.

Conclusion

The medicinal plants used by the FMPs appear to have similar ethnomedicinal uses for treatment of skin disorders in other regions of the world. Plants like Senna alata and Azadirachta indica are also validated scientifically for skin disease(s) treatment. Thus these plants can be readily available and affordable sources for treatment of skin diseases.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the FMPs for providing information.

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