Plants Used in Antivenom Therapy in Rural Kenya: Ethnobotany and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Snake envenomation is one of the neglected tropical diseases which has left an intolerable death toll and severe socioeconomic losses in Kenya. In a continued effort to identify some antiophidic East African botanical species, this study generated ethnobotanical information on antivenom plants reported in Kenya, with a view to identify potential species which could be subjected to in vitro and clinical studies for possible development into antivenoms. Data retrieved through searches done in multidisciplinary databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scientific Electronic Library Online) indicated that 54 plant species belonging to 45 genera, distributed among 27 families, are used for the management of snakebites in Kenya. Most species belonged to the family Asteraceae (11%), Malvaceae (11%), Fabaceae (9%), Annonaceae (6%), Combretaceae (6%), and Lamiaceae (6%). The main growth habit of the species is as herbs (35%), shrubs (33%), and trees (28%). Ethnomedicinal preparations used in treating snake poisons are usually from leaves (48%), roots (26%), and stem bark (8%) through decoctions, infusions, powders, and juices which are applied topically or administered orally. The most frequently encountered species were Combretum collinum, Euclea divinorum, Fuerstia africana, Grewia fallax, Microglossa pyrifolia, Solanecio mannii, and Solanum incanum. Indigenous knowledge on medicinal antivenom therapy in Kenya is humongous, and therefore studies to isolate and evaluate the antivenom compounds in the claimed plants are required to enable their confident use in antivenom therapy alongside commercial antivenin sera.

Intraspecific Variation of Phytochemicals, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities of Different Solvent Extracts of Albizia coriaria Leaves from Some Agroecological Zones of Uganda

“…Qualitative phytochemical screening of medicinal plants informs the need and choice for their elaborate phytochemical analysis and/or pharmacological evaluation [91,92]. Classical phytochemical screening of the different solvent extracts of A. coriaria leaves revealed the presence of several secondary metabolites including alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, phenols, saponins, tannins, and terpenes as shown in Table 2.…”

Ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, and phytochemistry of traditional medicinal plants used in the management of symptoms of tuberculosis in East Africa: a systematic review

“…Phytochemical investigation reveals the chemical nature of the pure compounds that are responsible for the pharmacological activity as well as the toxicity of medicinal plants [19,64,[98][99][100][101]. Chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques are used to identify and elucidate the chemical structures of compounds [102][103][104][105][106][107].…”

“…Comprehensive data on medicinal plants used in the management of TB is important for the conservation of these species as some of them are either rare or endangered. It also provides more evidence that increases the confidence in the utilization of these herbal remedies for primary health care as well as their regulation by relevant authorities in case of ineffectiveness and toxicity [ 19 , 20 ]. The analysis and synthesis of the results may also help in identifying existing gaps and challenges in the current research and stimulates future research opportunities.…”

Traditional Medicinal Uses, Phytoconstituents, Bioactivities, and Toxicities of Erythrina abyssinica Lam. ex DC. (Fabaceae): A Systematic Review

“…Figure 1: PRISMA flow diagram showing the search and retrieval steps of the study (adopted from Moher et al [48]). Folk name (local language) Country Authors Ejjirikiti (Luganda), Murinzi, Kiko Omoko/Echuko (Rutoro, Rukonzo), Oluo (Lugbara), Kisoro, Lochoro, Oding, Loting (Acholi), Kikiri (Kwamba), Engosorot (Ateso), Olawu (Madi), Koli (Jopadhola), Owila kot (Lango), Muyirikiti, Ekilama (Lusoga), Cheroguru, Muragolo (Lugishu), Mutembetembe (Lugwe), Bwiko (Lukiga), Kaborte (Sebei), Kiko, Muko (Lunyangkore, Lutoro), Mudongodongo, Mukobe (Lunyuli) Uganda [2,3,[10][11][12][13][14][15] Omotembe (Kisii), Muhuti (Kikuyu), Ekirikiti or Ol-Goroshe (Maasai), Muuti (Meru), Kivuti or Muvuti (Kamba), Mulungu (Taita), Mwamba ngoma, Mbamba ngoma, Muhuti, Mjafari or Mwamba (Kiswahili), Kumurembei (Luhya) Kenya [10,[16][17][18][19] Qanqari (Iraqw), Mriri (Chagga), Muhemi (Hehe), and Muungu (Pare), Kisebhe (Rungwe) Tanzania [20][21][22] Kuara, Korra, Korch (Amharic) Ethiopia [ Angola [4] Mulunguti, Mwale (Nyanja) Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi [10] Mulunguti (Bemba, Tongan) Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe [5,10] Mutiti (Shona) Zimbabwe [5] Suwawue, Soaueh (Tigrigna) Eritrea, Ethiopia [10,29] Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine…”