Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 6(9): 1466-1473, 2010 © 2010, INSInet Publication Study of an Ethnobotany at the Village Dohanagar, Naogaon A.H.M.M. Rahman, E.Z.M.F. Kabir, S.N. Sima, R.S. Sultana, M. Nasiruddin and A.T.M. N. Zaman Department of Botany, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh. Abstract: An ethnobotanical study of the village Dohanagar, under Patnitala Upazilla of Naogaon district was made. Information gathered through structural questionnaire and interviews shows that in the village, among 102 house holds 20 belong to the Santhal tribe who mostly use different plant species for their diseases and ailments. During the survey, 79 plant taxa belonged to 71 genera under 40 families were mentioned by them having economic importance. 55 plants are used only as medicine and 24 plants are used both as medicine and other purposes. Different plant parts of different spp. are used as medicine for treating various diseases; bark of 12, leaf of 72, fruit of 41, root of 25, flower of 1, seed of 3, stem of 3, rhizome of 2, bulb of 3, latex of 3, wood 1 and whole plant of 8 species were used as medicine. It was observed that the availability of these plants is decreasing at an alarming rate. This observation also reveals that habitat destruction, over exploitation and unplanned agriculture were the reasons for depletion of medicinal plants. Therefore, the medicinal plants used as traditional healthcare system need urgent conservation. Key words: Ethnobotany, Santhal, Naogaon. INTRODUCTION Ethnobotany is the study of the relationship between plants and people: From “ethno”–study of people and “botany”-study of plants. Ethnobotany is considered a branch of ethnobiology. Ethnobotany studies the complex relationships between (uses of) plants and cultures. The focus of ethnobotany is on how plants have been or are used, managed and perceived in human societies and includes plants used for food, medicine, divination, cosmetics, dyeing, textiles, for building, tools, currency, clothing, rituals and social life [13] . Ethnobotany, in its totality, is virtually and old field with new dimension of research. And if this field is investigated thoroughly and systematically, it will yield results of grate value missing the ethnologists, archaeologists, anthropologists, plant-geographers, ethnobotanists, botanists and linguists and ultimately to pharmacologists and phytochemists [11] . Bangladesh is very rich in ethnocultural heritage and traditional use of plant materials that may be of special interest in ethnobotanical informations. About 80 percent people of the country live in the villages and a considerable proportion is tribals living in remote forest areas [1] . The village "Dohanagar" under Patnitala Upazilla of Naogaon was selected as the study area due to its ethno-catted significance. During ethnobotanical field studies in the village we came across a large number of tribal people "Santhal" who are using wild and semi-wild plants for medicine and other purposes. They are very experienced in traditional medicine and are actually prescribing these plants materials to cure different diseases. The data were collected either from local medicinemen or ordinary people who accompanied us in the field [13] . MATERIALS AND METHODS The present work is mainly based on information gathered from the interview with the "Santhals" on the plants having economic importance to them. Relevant plants were collected from the study area, identified and preserved at the Herbarium of the Department of Botany, Rajshahi University. The Present Investigation Is Divided into Two Parts: Part-I. Interview with "Santhals", collection, study, identification and preservation of plants: First step was interviewing the "Santhals" about the plants they used in their daily life. These included the plants that have some economic importance as fruits, vegetables, furniture, drug, etc. Collections were made throughout the year and particular care was taken not to miss the flowering stages or the fruits. In all cases multiple sets of collections were made. During survey date, collection number, habitat, local name, part use and distribution were recorded. Herbarium sheets were prepared in multiple sets and flowers were preserved in Corresponding Author: A.H.M.M. Rahman, Department of Botany, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh. E-mail:ahmmahbubur_rahman@yahoo.com 1466