Abstract

Background: Traditional medicinal plants constitute primary healthcare resources for rural coastal communities in Bangladesh, yet systematic ethnobotanical documentation from Barguna District remains limited. Indigenous knowledge faces erosion threats from modernization.
Aim: This study documents medicinal plant diversity, traditional therapeutic knowledge, and quantitative ethnobotanical indices among traditional healers in Barguna District, Barishal Division, Bangladesh.
Methods: Twenty-seven traditional healers were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires during April-June 2025. Plant specimens were authenticated and deposited at Daffodil International University Agricultural Herbarium. Informant Consensus Factor (FIC) and Citation Frequency (Cf) quantified knowledge consensus and cultural significance.
Results: Sixty-seven medicinal plant species from 34 botanical families were documented. Fabaceae (10.3%) and Lamiaceae (8.8%) were predominant. Trees constituted 35.3% of species, with leaves most utilized (32.4%). Gastrointestinal disorders showed highest consensus (FIC = 0.89), followed by respiratory ailments (FIC = 0.85). Azadirachta indica (Cf = 0.89), Ocimum sanctum (Cf = 0.81), and Curcuma longa (Cf = 0.78) demonstrated highest cultural significance.
Conclusion: This study reveals substantial ethnomedicinal diversity in coastal Bangladesh. High consensus values indicate robust traditional knowledge. Urgent conservation strategies and sustainable harvesting protocols are essential to preserve indigenous knowledge while supporting rural healthcare and drug discovery initiatives.

Key words: Ethnobotany; Kabiraj; Phytotherapy; Biodiversity; Indigenous knowledge