~ 1089 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2018; 7(5): 1089-1095 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2018; 7(5): 1089-1095 Received: 25-07-2018 Accepted: 27-08-2018 Milon Kumar Ghosh Department of Pharmacy, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh Ashim Kumar Department of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh Ranjan Kumar Barman Department of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh Mir Imam Ibne Wahed Department of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh Correspondence Milon Kumar Ghosh Department of Pharmacy, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh Current status of phytochemical and phytopharmacological study of some medicinal plants used by the tribes in Bangladesh: A review Milon Kumar Ghosh, Ashim Kumar, Ranjan Kumar Barman and Mir Imam Ibne Wahed Abstract Medicinal plants are emerging ever-increasing demand day by day because of their significant pharmacological values with low cost and less toxicity than the corresponding synthetic chemical entities. These plants have been used since very long times in the traditional folk medicine. Although various momentous advancement have been made in the medical and pharmaceutical sciences, yet the various tribes use the traditional plants as drug for remedial purposes worldwide till today. Enormous research papers are revealed of chemical profiling and pharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants. This comprehensive review is aimed to combine the phytochemical and phytopharmacological worth of medicinal plants used by various tribes in Bangladesh and to inspire advance research for the improvement of phytomedicine to combat various diseases. Keywords: Medicinal plants, tribes, phytochemistry, phytopharmacology, Bangladesh Introduction Traditionally, plants are used by people in every country as natural remedy of various health disorders. Chemical compounds from plants are the basis of modern medicine and have been used for therapeutic purposes since the beginning of human era [63] . From that time, human being has been searching for recovery of new disease from plant sources [44] . The various group of chemical compounds found in plants are- essential oils, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, vitamins, amino acids, co-enzymes, minerals, phenolic compounds, sterols, organic acids etc. [31, 15] . A wide range of pharmacological effects that are exerted by these plants include- anticancer, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiplatelet, antihyperlipidemic, adulticidal, melanin inhibitory, antidepressant, antiobesity, antiamoebic, radioprotective, larvicidal, cardioprotective, antifungal, coronary vasodilation, antifertility, brain protective, cytoprotective, gastroprotective, laxative, estrogenic, diuretic and many others [26,14] . In Bangladesh, different tribes (Table 1) live in various regions [13, 4] , who largely depend on plants’ source for their remedy from various disease rather than synthetic medicine. For these reasons, this study was undertaken to focus into further studies of the pharmacological potential of these plant products and their biochemical effects on vital organs. Table 1: Geographical distributions of the tribes live in Bangladesh Tribes Habitation Sawntal Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Jessore, Satkhira, Khulna, Gaibandha, Noagaon, Bogra, Sirajgonj, Chapainawabgonj, Natore, Sumangonj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet and Hobigonj districts [13] Garo Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Gazipur, Tangail, Netrokona, Sumangonj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet and Hobigonj districts [13] Chakma Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Cox's Bazar (Teknaf) districts [13, 4] Marma Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari; and coastal area of Cox's Bazar and Patuakhali districts [13, 4] Tripura Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Noakhali, Comilla, Sylhet, Faridpur and Dhaka districts [13, 4] Phytochemical and Phytopharmacological aspects Bangla name : Ashawagandha Local name : Ashawagandha (Sawntal), Samidak (Chakma) Botanical name : Withania somnifera Family : Solanaceae