Ethnomedicinal plants and isolated compounds against Snake venom activity: A review

Abstract

Snakebite is an occupational hazard that has affected the population in tropical and subtropical countries. Worldwide approximately 5.4 million bites, 2.7 million envenomations, and 81,000-1,38,000 deaths are observed per annum. The incidences are higher among farmers and plantation workers. Antivenom is the only treatment available and the production of the same is challenging due to geographical variation of snakes, storage conditions, and non-availability of venom for production. Antivenom therapy is associated with immediate or delayed hypersensitivity and does not prevent local tissue damage. Thus the search for medicinal plants by the scientific community has become relevant. The ethnobotanical studies on various plants have revealed their use to treat various ailments including snakebite. Hence, the review is aimed to amass the medicinal plants studied and also emphasize various components isolated that have shown promising results.