Kenyan medicinal plants used as antivenin: a comparison of plant usage

Owuor, Bethwell O.; Kisangau, Daniel P.

doi:10.1186/1746-4269-2-7

Cited by 75 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The F IC of local knowledge for disease treatment depended on the availability of plant species and the occurrence of diseases in the study area. In the literature, high informant consensus (F IC 0.875) was also recorded among the snakebite healers of Kamba in Africa [33] and treating 'mich' or febrile diseases (F IC 0.80) among Northwestern Ethiopia [34]. The fidelity value (FL) of a plant species for a specific disease in the study area varied between 30 and 100%.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Ethnobotany of the Monpa ethnic group at Arunachal Pradesh, India

Namsa

Mandal

Tangjang

et al. 2011

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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BackgroundThe present paper documents the uses of plants in traditional herbal medicine for human and veterinary ailments, and those used for dietary supplements, religious purpose, local beverage, and plants used to poison fish and wild animals. Traditional botanical medicine is the primary mode of healthcare for most of the rural population in Arunachal Pradesh.Materials and methodsField research was conducted between April 2006 and March 2009 with randomly selected 124 key informants using semi-structured questionnaire. The data obtained was analyzed through informant consensus factor (FIC) to determine the homogeneity of informant's knowledge on medicinal plants.ResultsWe documented 50 plants species belonging to 29 families used for treating 22 human and 4 veterinary ailments. Of the medicinal plants reported, the most common growth form was herbs (40%) followed by shrubs, trees, and climbers. Leaves were most frequently used plant parts. The consensus analysis revealed that the dermatological ailments have the highest FIC (0.56) and the gastro-intestinal diseases have FIC (0.43). FIC values indicated that there was high agreement in the use of plants in dermatological and gastro-intestinal ailments category among the users. Gymnocladus assamicus is a critically rare and endangered species used as disinfectant for cleaning wounds and parasites like leeches and lice on livestocks. Two plant species (Illicium griffithii and Rubia cordifolia) are commonly used for traditional dyeing of clothes and food items. Some of the edible plants recorded in this study were known for their treatment against high blood pressure (Clerodendron colebrookianum), diabetes mellitus (Momordica charantia), and intestinal parasitic worms like round and tape worms (Lindera neesiana, Solanum etiopicum, and Solanum indicum). The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh have traditionally been using Daphne papyracea for preparing hand-made paper for painting and writing religious scripts in Buddhist monasteries. Three plant species (Derris scandens, Aesculus assamica, and Polygonum hydropiper) were frequently used to poison fish during the month of June-July every year and the underground tuber of Aconitum ferrox is widely used in arrow poisoning to kill ferocious animals like bear, wild pigs, gaur and deer. The most frequently cited plant species; Buddleja asiatica and Hedyotis scandens were used as common growth supplements during the preparation of fermentation starter cultures.ConclusionThe traditional pharmacopoeia of the Monpa ethnic group incorporates a myriad of diverse botanical flora. Traditional knowledge of the remedies is passed down through oral traditions without any written document. This traditional knowledge is however, currently threatened mainly due to acculturation and deforestation due to continuing traditional shifting cultivation. This study reveals that the rural populations in Arunachal Pradesh have a rich knowledge of forest-based natural resources and consumption of wild edible plants is still an integral part of their so...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Ethnobotany of the Monpa ethnic group at Arunachal Pradesh, India

Namsa

Mandal

Tangjang

et al. 2011

J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine

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“…The culture of the people within the hospital catchment areas was identified as a limiting factor in snake bite management on account of the fact that traditional healers were consulted first before victims visited the health facilities. Belief in traditional healers is entrenched in this part of the world and may explain the low utility of antivenom in some facilities [ 37 ]. Additionally, poor accessibility to antivenom, high costs and lack of proper training on management of snake bites may also have contributed to this observation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of snake bites in selected areas of Kenya

Ochola¹,

Okumu²,

Muchemi³

et al. 2018

Pan Afr Med J

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IntroductionSnake bites are a silent public health problem in Kenya. Previous studies on snake bites in the country have mainly focused on identifying offending snake species, assessing the severity of envenomation and testing the efficacy of antivenom. Factors associated with snake bites in the country are yet to be fully understood. The aim of this work was to determine pharmaco-epidemiological factors associated with snake bites in areas of Kenya where incidence, severity and species responsible for snake bites have been reported.MethodsKakamega provincial hospital, Kabarnet, Kapenguria and, Makueni district hospitals were selected as study sites based on previous findings on incidence, severity and species responsible for snake bites in catchment areas of these hospitals. Persistent newspaper reports of snake bites in these areas and distribution of snakes in Kenya were also considered. Cases of snake bites reported between 2007-2009 were retrospectively reviewed and data on incidence, age, site of the bites, time of bite and antivenom use was collected.Results176 bites were captured, 91 of which occurred in 2009. Individual incidence was between 2.7/100,000/year and 6.7/100,000/year. Bites peaked in the 1-15 year age group while 132/176 bites were in the lower limb area and 49/176 victims received antivenom. Most bites occurred during the dry season, in the bush and in the evening. Overall mortality was 2.27%.ConclusionThere is a need to sensitize the Kenyan public and healthcare personnel on preventive measures, first aid and treatment of snake bites.

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“…They are accepted as healthcare providers with a thoughtful socio-cultural understanding of their communities in both ethnic groups. 8 Other alternative treatment involves the usage of folk traditional medicines (民間傳統藥 mín jiān chuán tǒng yào) in snakebites. Various plants have been used against snakebite in folk traditional medicine.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A randomized ethnomedicinal survey of snakebite treatment in southwestern parts of Bangladesh

Hasan

Azam²,

Ahmed³

et al. 2016

Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

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Snakebite is the single most important toxin-related injury, causing substantial mortality in many parts of the Africa, Asia and the Americas. Incidence of snakebite is usually recorded in young people engaged in active physical work in rural areas. The various plant parts used to treat snakebite included whole plant, leaves, barks, roots and seeds. Most bites in Bangladesh are recorded between May and October with highest number in June. Lower and upper limbs are most common sites of snakebite, but it may happen in other sites as well. Snake venom (蛇毒 shé dú) has been the cause of innumerable deaths worldwide. However, antiserum does not provide enough protection against venom induced hemorrhage, necrosis, nephrotoxicity and hypersensitivity reactions. Informed consent was obtained from the practitioners prior to interviews. After the survey, it is concluded that the medicinal plants used by tribal medicinal practitioners in Bangladesh for treatment against snakebite are Acyranthes aspera L. (土牛膝 tǔ niú xī), Amaranthus Viridis L. (野莧菜 yě xiàng cài), Asparagus racemosus Willd (總序天冬 zǒng xù tiān dōng) and Emblica officinalis Gaertn (油柑 yóu gān), while the non-tribal communities used 35 plant species among them, most of the plants reported as new species used against snakebite in the belonging family. The plants present a considerable potential for discovery of novel compounds with fewer side effects for treatment of antisnake venom and can, at least in Bangladesh, become a source of affordable and more easily available drugs.

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Kenyan medicinal plants used as antivenin: a comparison of plant usage

Cited by 75 publications

References 24 publications

Ethnobotany of the Monpa ethnic group at Arunachal Pradesh, India

Ethnobotany of the Monpa ethnic group at Arunachal Pradesh, India

Epidemiology of snake bites in selected areas of Kenya

A randomized ethnomedicinal survey of snakebite treatment in southwestern parts of Bangladesh

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