Abstract:
A medicinal plant is any plant which, in one or more of its organ, contains substance that can be used for therapeutic purpose or which is a precursor for synthesis of useful drugs.” (Sofowora, 1982, Medicinal Plant and Traditional Medicine in Africa)...This definition of Medicinal Plant has been formulated by WHO (World Health Organization).
In Bangladesh, ninety percent of the medicinal plants are wild sourced (Ghani, 1998; SEDF & IC, 2003). Out of approximately 5,000 species of indigenous and naturalized phanerogamic and pteridophytic plants growing in the country, more than a thousand of them, including many food, vegetable, beverage, spice and ornamental plants, contain medicinally useful chemical substances (Mia, 1990). Growing in the forests, jungles, wastelands, and along roadsides, the types of medicinal plants in Bangladesh are varied. A total of 546 medicinal plants that occur in the country have been counted thus far (Yusuf et al., 1994). However, this list is not exhaustive since it is believed that many other medicinal plants also grow there, but have not yet been discovered or identified (Said, 1995; Ghani, 1998).
Description:
This thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) of East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
