Quantitative ethnomedicinal study of the chakma community in Bangladesh integrating network pharmacology and molecular docking

Abstract

The present study documents and quantitatively evaluates the ethnomedicinal knowledge of the Chakma community in Rangamati Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh, integrates network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of the most culturally important species. Field investigations were conducted using open-ended and semi-structured interviews with 102 informants. A total of 82 medicinal plant species representing 78 genera and 49 families were recorded. Herbs were the dominant growth form (54.9%) and leaves were the most frequently used plant part (53.2%). Quantitative analysis revealed high Informant Consensus Factor (FIC) values (0.90–1.00) across 13 disease categories, indicating strong agreement among informants. Use Value (UV) analysis identified Clerodendrum infortunatum as the most culturally important species. Network pharmacology analysis identified 167 unique targets associated with hepatic fibrosis, and protein-protein interaction network unraveled 10 hub genes, including CASP3, EGFR, ESR1, MMP9, GSK3B, MTOR, ERBB2, MDM2, PIK3CA, and MAPK1. Gene Ontology analysis provided insights into key biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. PI3K–AKT signaling pathway have been identified from KEGG that demonstrated prominent role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Molecular docking demonstrated strong binding affinities of key phytocompounds, with 4-carvomenthenol emerging as the most promising for drug design. These findings provide a quantitative baseline of Chakma ethnomedicine and translate traditional knowledge into molecular-level evidence, offering a scientific foundation for future drug discovery and conservation of indigenous medicinal heritage.

Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 33(1): 83-104, 2026 (June)