Medicinal plants are used as a source of drugs for treating human and livestock health issues. In Bangladesh, around 500 plant species have been identified as medicinal plants and 400 herbal factories produce Ayurvedic, Unani, and homeopathic medicines from these plants. The document then discusses several common medicinal plants found in Bangladesh, including their botanical features, parts used, and therapeutic properties. It notes that medicinal plants constitute an important natural resource and play a significant role in primary healthcare while also benefiting local economies.

1. Medicinal Plants
MADE BY MD. MORSHEDUL ISLAM KHAN

2. Introduction
Medicinal plants are used as a source of drugs for the treatment of various
human and livestock health. A total of 2,50,000 species of flowering plants
are referred to as medicinal plants. The WHO enlisted some 21,000
medicinal plant species. The present global herbal market is worth about
US 62 billion per annum.
In Bangladesh, about 500 plant species have been identified as medicinal
plant because of their therapeutic properties. In the mean time, a large
number of industries (400 herbal factories) have been established in this
country for producing Ayurvedic, Unani and homeopathic medicines. It
has been estimated that Bangladesh has a market of about 100 core taka
worth herbal products annually.

3. What is medicinal plants ?
Plants that possess therapeutic properties or exert beneficial
pharmacological effect on the animal body are generally designated as
medicinal plants.
The term refers to plants (tree, shrub, or herb, fresh or dried) utilized in
any forms of medicinal use which are thought to, proven to, promote well
being or produce cures. It also includes plants that have multiple uses, i.e.
as a source of perfumery or as the constituents of herbal teas, shampoos,
soaps, cosmetics etc.
According to the WHO,” A medicinal plant is any plants which, in one or
more of its organs, contains substances that can be used for therapeutic
purpose, or which are precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi-synthesis”

4. List of some common medicinal plants:
 Bel
 Harjora
 Haritaki
 Bohera
 Tulsi
 Ashok
 Neem
 Garlic
 Onion
 Papaya
 Kajubadam
 Nishinda
 Babla
 Shimul
 Arhar
 Amloki etc.

5. Bel
 Common name: Bel
 English name : Holy fruit tree
 Scientific name: Aegle marmelos
 Family: Rutaceae

6. Bel
 Botanical features:
A medium sized armed
deciduas tree up to 8.0m high
with straight, sharp, auxiliary
thorn. Leaves trifoliate,
aromatic, alternate. Leaflets
sub-sessile and the terminal
long-petiole. Flowers greenish
white sweet scented.

7. Bel
Fruits globose woody berry with
yellowish rind, seeds numerous
oblong, compressed embedded in
arranged brown sweet gummy
pulp. Propagation by seeds. It is
found all over the country.
 Parts used:
 Root
 Leaves and
 fruits

8. Bel
 Uses:
 The roots are sweet, astringent, bitter. They are useful in diarrhea,
dysentery, dyspepsia, vomiting, stomachic, gastric.
 The leaves are astringent, laxative. They are useful in optic deafness,
inflammation, diabetes and asthmatic complaints.
 The unripe fruits are bitter, acrid, sour, astringent, and digestive. They
are useful in diarrhea, dysentery, stomachic.
 The ripe fruits are sweet, aromatic, cooling, laxative and tonic. They are
useful for heart and brain diseases, and dyspepsia.

9. Harjora
 Common name: Harjora
 English Name: Edible stemmed wine
 Scientific Name: Cissus quadrangularis
 Family: Vitaceae

10. Harjora
 Botanical Description :
Harjora is a succulent. It is fleshy,
cactus-like. It is commonly known
as Asthisamharal.
Leaves, 2.5-5cm long . Stems and
braches are acutely winged.

11. Harjora
Flowers are disposed in terminal panicles,
small. Fruit is large succulent drupe.
Flowering time: June – December.
Propagation: Plant is propagated using
cuttings.
It can be cultivated in plains coastal
areas, jungles, wastelands, up to 500 m
elevation.
Parts uses : The whole plant including all
parts such as
• Stems
• Leaves
• Roots

12. Harjora
 Uses:
 The roots and stems are most useful for healing of fracture of the bones.
 The stem is bitter; it is given internally and applied topically in broken
bones, used in complaints of the back and spine.
 A paste of stem is useful for muscular pains.
 The stem juice of plant is used to treat scurvy, menstrual disorders.
 The ash of plant is useful as a substitute for baking powder.
 A paste of stem is given in asthma, burns and wounds.
 The herb is fed to cattle to induce flow of milk.

13. Haritaki
 Common name: Haritaki/ Hirda
 English name: Chebulic myrobalan
 Scientific name: Terminalia chebula
 Family: Combretaceae

14. Haritaki
 Botanical Description :
A moderate sized to large
deciduous tree with a cylindrical
bole, rounded crown and spreading
branches.
Leaves ovate, Flowers yellowish
white.

15. Haritaki
Fruits glabrous, shining yellow to
orange brown in color up to 3.75cm
long. Seed hard, pale yellow.
Propagation by seeds in rainy
season. It is found in all over the
country.
Parts used as medicinal purposes:
 Mature and immature fruits

16. Haritaki
 Uses:
 Haritaki helps improve appetite and helps in digestion.
 Regular consumption of Haritaki powder, fried in ghee, promotes
longevity and boosts energy.
 Its powder when mixed with honey and ghee, is an effective remedy for
anemia, hepatitis and obesity.
 The paste of its fruit is effective in reducing swelling.
 The paste gives relief to the eyelids, in case of conjunctivitis.
 The herb is used in preparing ‘ Triphala’ that is used for hair wash,
brush teeth in pyorrhea and treat bleeding gums.

17. At a glance
Medicinal plants constitute an important natural wealth of a country. They
play a significant role in providing primary health care services to rural
people. They serve as important therapeutic agents as well as important
raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicines.
Substantial amount of foreign exchange can be saved and earned by
commercial production of medicinal plants in a country and by exporting
them to other countries. In this way, indigenous medicinal plants play
significant roles in the economy of a country.
At last we can say that, medicinal plants is a source of income, traditional
medicinal, food products, cosmeceuticals and benefiting the poor and
landless in mountain and highland regions.

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19. Thanks to all…..