Anti-venom Potential of Traditionally used Medicinal Plants of East Africa: A Perspective on the Phytotherapeutics

Author: Acharya Balkrishna, Monika, Preeti Raperia, Anurag Dabas & Vedpriya Arya

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Abstract

The East African diversity constitutes of the highly diverse flora of medicinal plants and traditional medicinal knowledge about their application to treat snakebite which is majorly neglected issue of concern all across the world. Nowadays, researchers emphasize plant-based anti-dotes by assessing traditional medicinal knowledge which is used in treating snakebite. The present investigation documented the plant-based snake venom antagonists based on limited literature available due to lack of access to traditional knowledge. The present study aims to compute and documenting possible available data on plant for anti-venom potential. Among the East African countries, Uganda and Kenya express key interest to used herbal medicine against snakebite and roots are used extensively, although numerous species from the family Aristolochiaceae and Fabaceae are used as a remedy against snake venom. The study assists to draw an attention towards the need of identifying and scientifically validatin

Keywords

Africa, Antivenin, Ethnomedicinal plants, Pharmacological activity, Snakebite

Conclusion

The plant parts (roots, leaves, whole plant, bark and tuber) are commonly used, although root showed highest usages against the snake venom followed by leaves and bark. The buds, flowers, fruits and seeds although are also rich in phytochemicals but are less frequently used. Highest number of medicinal species from the family Aristolochiaceae and Fabaceae are used as a remedy against snakebite. The plant is mostly administered orally in the form of paste, its infusions as a drink, juice, decoctions, concoction and in powdered form and it can be applied topically. Several studies showed the key interest of investigators to screen new plants for their anti-venom actions. Among the East African countries, Uganda and Kenya shows the highest interest to use the traditional herbal medicine against snake venom. The emerging trends in the research also focus on the clinical aspects of these plant-based medicines trials. The untiring efforts to procure information about phytochemical and pharma

References

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How to cite this article

Balkrishna, A., Monika,Raperia, P., Dabas, A. and Arya, V. (2021). Anti-venom Potential of Traditionally used Medicinal Plants of East Africa: A Perspective on the phytotherapeutics. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(3): 339-347.