155 American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 7(3): 155-161, 2013 ISSN 1995-0748 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Corresponding Author: Dr. Mohammed Rahmatullah, Pro-Vice Chancellor University of Development Alternative House No. 78, Road No. 11A (new) Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1205 Bangladesh Phone: 88-01715032621; Fax: 88-02-8157339; E-mail: rahamatm@hotmail.com Traditional knowledge on zootherapeutic practices among some folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh Zubaida Khatun, Piplu Bhuiyan, Md. Saiful Islam Roney, Mohammed Rahmatullah Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Development Alternative, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh Zubaida Khatun, Piplu Bhuiyan, Md. Saiful Islam Roney, Mohammed Rahmatullah: Traditional knowledge on zootherapeutic practices among some folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh ABSTRACT Although medicinal plants form the chief ingredient in the formulations of folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh, there are also occasional uses of animal parts. The present study explores the use of various animal, bird and insect species among three randomly selected folk medicinal practitioners in Brahmanbaria, Narsinghdi, and Rajshahi districts of the country. The three practitioners, among themselves, were observed to use thirteen species of animals, which included turtle, cockroach, bull, goat, wild cattle, camel, fox, crow, crab, leech, earthworm, sparrow, and water hen. These species were used for treatment of asthma, insanity, being touched by ‘evil wind’, to increase sexuality in males, epilepsy, as female contraceptive, eye disorder, mental disorder, rheumatic pain, to improve health of weak children, any type of severe pain in body, and puerperal fever. Turtle shell was used for treatment of infections in leg of cattle. Zootherapy is common in many traditional medicinal systems of the world. It is suggested that scientific attention be given to the traditional use of animals for therapeutic purposes, the scientific validation of which can lead to improvement of health in people. Key words: Zootherapy, folk medicine, fauna, Bangladesh Introduction Zootherapy is the use of animal or animal-derived metabolic products (like animal feces, urine) for the healing of animal and diseases of domesticated animal. Animals have formed an integral part of the process of healing human beings, and the use of animals is ingrained in the culture and minds of many people in various countries of the world. Although described under the general term ‘animal’, these include various forms like echinoderms, arthropods, fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Use of all the afore-mentioned species for healing human beings has been described in the State of Bahia in northeastern Brazil (Costa-Neto, 1999). A study conducted in the city of Feira de Santana in Bahia State revealed that an insect, namely Trigona spinipes Fabricius (Apidae) was used for treatment of coughs and bronchitis; a reptile, Caiman cf. latirostris Daudin (Alligatoridae), was used for treatment of asthma and stroke; bird species like Gallus domesticus Linnaeus (Phasianidae) and Rhea americana Linnaeus (Rheidae) were used for treatment of catarrh and boils, and general aches, respectively; mammalian species used included Trichecus inunguis Natterer (Trichechidae), Nasua nasua Hagman (Procyonidae), Mazama cf. gouazoubira G. Fisher (Cervidae), and Coendou cf. prehensilis Linnaeus (Erethizontidae) for treatment of diseases like rheumatism, insect bites, sprains, impotence, bronchitis, and asthma. Use of animal and animal products (both animal and bird species) have also been reported to be used by the inhabitants surrounding the Ranthambhore National Park in India, where the use of fifteen animals and animal products including bird, turtle and mammalian species (both wild and domesticated) have been reported (Mahawar and Jaroli, 2006). The Saharia tribe of Rajasthan, India also reportedly uses fifteen animal species for treatment of various ailments like coughs, asthma, tuberculosis, paralysis, earache, herpes, weakness, and muscular pain (Mahawar and Jaroli, 2007). Folk veterinary uses of animal species have been reported for the district of Cubati, Paraíba State, Brazil (Barboza et al., 2007). The use of at least 584 animal species in traditional medicines of Latin America has been reviewed (Alves and Alves, 2011). Other uses of animal parts and products have been reported for the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil (Alves et al., 2012); by the Shoka tribes of Pithoragarh District in Uttaranchal, India (Negi and Palyal, 2007); in rural areas of Nigeria (Adeola, 1992); in traditional medicines of Aquismón, San Luis Potosí, México (Alonso-Castro et al., 2011); and in northeast Brazil (Alves, 2009). Some organs of the razor-billed curassow (Pauxi tuberosa Spix, Cracidae)