Traditional herbal drugs - Commonly used in Snake bite Management - An Update

Shreevanitha

Traditional herbal drugs - Commonly used in Snake bite Management - An Update

Shreevanitha.^1*

DOI:

^1* Shreevanitha, Associate Professor, Department of Agadatantra, Muniyal Ayurveda Medical Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

Due to the advent of modern technologies and methodologies, the lineage of practitioners has been discontinued for the present and upcoming generations, as a result of which the ancient knowledge is at the verge of extinct. Thereby, resulting in loss of sacred ancient knowledge of Visha Chikitsa, which was formulated and passed on to several generations by our ancient researchers. As the folklore practitioners failed in documenting the theories due to illiteracy, modern era has failed in gaining the precious sacred knowledge. Need for documentation and setting a medical standard to these practices is high, to give a dignified touch to the practices. Herbal drugs are to be made available in the modernized capsule, tablets or powder form with more palatability, easy availability, and long shelf life. So that victims at any corner of the world can make the best use of it and attain the profit to the maximum extent. Resources for the preparation of medicaments are at the verge of extinct due to deforestation, natural calamities and modernized polluted environment. Government should take up the responsibility to nurture, promote and propagate the ideas and medications in order to make the best use of naturally available healing techniques.

Keywords: Snake bite, toxicology, folk medicine, traditional medicine, Ayurveda

Corresponding Author	How to Cite this Article	To Browse
Shreevanitha, Associate Professor, Department of Agadatantra, Muniyal Ayurveda Medical Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India. Email:	Shreevanitha, Traditional herbal drugs - Commonly used in Snake bite Management - An Update. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2022;7(11):186-190. Available From https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/2182

Introduction

Most snake bites are inflicted on the lower limbs of farmers, plantation workers, herdsmen and hunters. Usually, the snake is trodden on at night or in undergrowth. Snakes do not bite without provocation, but there may be an inadvertent tread or touch. Seasonal peaks in the incidence of snake bite are associated with agricultural activities, such as ploughing, or to fluctuation in the activity or populations of venomous snakes. Severe flooding, by

concentring the human and snake populations, has given rise to epidemics of snake bite in Colombia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Penetration of jungle areas during construction of new highways, and irrigations and hydroelectric schemes may also be other cause.

There are more than 2000 species of snakes in the world and about 216 species in India; of which, about 50 are poisonous. Global estimates suggest that 30,000 - 40,000 persons die each year from venomous snake bite, but this range is likely an under estimated because of incomplete reporting.^[1]

Snake Venom

Venom is the saliva of the snake. Cobra venom is faint transparent yellow and is slightly viscous. Venoms of different species of poisonous snakes vary in toxicity, composition and antigenic structure. It is basically a mixture of toxalbumins and enzymes in varying proportions. The enzymatic component cause local and systemic effects and the non-enzymatic compounds provide lethality.

Toxic enzymes like Proteolytic, Fibrin, Neurotoxins, Cholinesterase, Haemolysins, Cardiotoxin, Cytolysins, Agglutinins, Lecithinases, Phospholipase, Phosphotidase, Proteinases, Hyaluronidase, Protease, Ophioxidase, Protease, Biological amines, Enzymes, Peptides and Polypeptides are commonly found in snake venom.^[2]

Antivenom types: They are basically classified as;

1. Monovalent type - when they are effective against a given species venoms.

2. Polyvalent type - when they are effective against a range of species or several different species at the same time.^[3]

Adverse reaction of Anti Venom Therapy

1. Anaphylactic reaction (difficulty in breathing and swallowing, Redness of skin, Swelling of eyes and face, unusual tiredness or weakness).

2. Serum sickness (Enlargement of lymph gland, Fever, Inflammation of joints).

3. Pyrogen reaction - Due to increased concentration of non-immunoglobulin proteins available as hyperimmune antivenom.^[4]

Herbal antidote for snake bite

1. Ishwari

Botanical name - Aristolochia indica

Family - Asteraceae

Common name - Ishwari

Figure 1: Aristolochia indica

Part used - Root

Uses - Blood purification, Diuretics.

Anti-venom activity - Root extracts contains aristolochic acid, which contains strong gelatinolytic, collagenase, peroxidase and nuclease activities together with l - aminoacid oxicides and protease inhibitory potencies. Presence of starch branching enzymes is the major constituent of the extract. It produces no acute and sub chronic toxicity in animal at lower doses, but causes liver and kidney damage in high doses.

Strong inhibition of L -aminoacid oxidase may give partial relief from snake bite after topical application of the extracts.^[5]

Bhoonimba

Botanical name - Andrographis paniculate

Family - Acanthaceae

Common name - Kalamegha

Figure 2: Andrographis paniculate

Part used - whole plant

Uses - Blood purification, Kaphapittahara , Krimighna, Kushtaghna, depigmentation of skin, activates liver.

Antivenom activity - It provides some protection against the lethal dose of venom. Certain naturally occurring substances such as sitosterol, Pentacyclic terpines, nitro compounds, cinnamic acid derivatives, Curcuminoids, polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids are known compounds possessing protein binding and enzyme inhibiting properties.

The leaf of this plant contains andrographolide, the active constituent of which is diterpene and is responsible for ASV property by modifying the actions of proteins and enzymes also inhibit snake venom phospholipase A₂activites.^[6]

3. Shigru

Botanical name - Moringa oleifera

Family - Moringaceae

Common name - Nugge soppu

Figure 3: Moringa oleifera

Part used - Leaf, fruit

Uses - Blood purifier, Kushtaghna, Krimighna

Anti-venom activity - It contributes to the neutralizing effect of snake venom action. Alkaloids and flavonoids have inhibitory effects of snake venom toxins.

Direct interaction with catalytic sites of enzymes or with metal ions which are essential for enzymes activities may be involved. Ethanol extracts of this plants has antivenom properties by the pathologies induced by N. nigricolis venom.

This plant can be used as first aid treatment or in combination with antivenom for the treatment of snake bites. Active compounds of this plant are responsible for their mechanism of action.^[7]

4. Lajjalu

Botanical name - Mimosa pudica

Family - Leguminaceae

Common name - Nachike mullu

Figure 4: Mimosa pudica

Part used - Root, whole plant

Uses - Wound healing, reduces swelling, diuretic.

Antivenom activity - Mahanta M conducted research on dried root extracts of Mimosa pudica to show the antivenom property. The result shows that it has the ability to inhibit the myotoxicity due to Naja kaouthia venom. Aqueous root extract of Mimosa pudica dose dependently inhibited the hyaluronidase and protease activities of Indian snake venom. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of dried roots of Mimosa pudica were tested for their inhibitory activity on lethality, myotoxicity and toxic enzymes of Naja kaouthia venom.

The aqueous extract, particularly the normal water extract, shows significant, inhibitory effect on the lethality, myotoxicity and tested enzyme activities of venom compared with alcoholic extracts. The present findings suggest that an aqueous extract of Mimosa pudica root possesses compounds, which inhibit the activity of cobra venom.^[8]

5. Paatha

Botanical name - Cyclea peltate

Family –Menispermaceae.

Common name – Padavali

Part used - Root, stem

Uses - Detoxification, anti-poisonous, wound healing, Medicine against insect bite.

Anti-venom activity - Root extracts of this plant where efficiently deactivated the venom lethality of N. naja and effective dose remained to be 7.24 mg/3LD₅₀of N. naja venom it is effective in counter acting all the lethal effects of venom.

The compounds such as tetra decanoic and octadecadienoic acid have neutralizing properties on N. naja venom.

The result from ex-vivo and in-vivo analysis indicates that it possesses above compounds, which can counter act the toxins present in naja venom.^[9]

Figure 5: Cyclea peltate

6. Sarpagandha

Botanical name - Rauwolfia serpentina

Family - Apocynaceae

Common name - Sarpagandha

Figure 6: Rauwolfia serpentina

Part used - Root

Uses - Reduces blood pressure, induces sleep, wound healing property, Reduces anxiety

7. Saarvathi

Botanical name - Cordia macleodii

Family - Boraginaceae

Common name - Bili challe

Figure 7: Cordia macleodii

Part used - Root

Uses - Wound healing, activates liver.

Anti-venom activity - Flavonoids have anti-inflammatory, anti-histaminic, anti-bradykinin and anti-serotonin properties.

It provides protectives effect shown by this plant against snake venom poisoning through its above properties. Bark is being successfully used for the treatment of snake bite in some part of India.^[10]

Conclusion

Several medical emergencies like snake bite can be dealt with pharmacological investigations of the folklore medicines. WHO documented that 80% of the world population rely on plant based medicines for their primary health care. If the tribal sacred knowledge of plants are utilized scientifically, mankind will be benefited. Many countries have started documentation, cultivation scientific evaluation and sustainable utilization of medicinal flora used by traditional people. It is high time for us to exercise and propagate our ethnic knowledge against human mortality and morbidity.

Reference

1. Krishnan Vij. Textbook of forensic medicine and toxicology principles and practice. 5th edition, 2011,p481.

2. Reddy KS Narayan, OP Murty. The Essentials of forensic medicine and toxicology. 2014,p561.

4. Datta K Animesh et al. Snake bite, Snake venom, anti venom and herbal antidote, International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Pharmacy. 2011;2(4);1060-1067.

5. Maya devi C, Vasantha BM, Vijayan LA, Umashankar PR, Krishnan LK. A an improved for isolation of anti viper venom antibodies from chicken egg yolk. J Biochem Biophys Methods. 2002;51:129-138.

6. Payel Bhattacharjee. Characterization of the aqueous extract of the root of Aristolochia indica: Evaluation of its traditional use as an antidote for snake bites. 2012,p225.

7. S. John Premendran, K Kartik J Salwe, Swanand Patchak, Ranjana Brahmana, K Manimekalai. Anti cobra venom activity of plant Andrographis paniculata and its comparison with polyvalent anti snake venom. July 2011,198-204.

8. Akindele Oluwatosin Adeyi, Siji Babafemi Ajisebiola, Esther olubisi Adeyi, Chibuisi Gideon Alimba, Uchennaya Godwill Okorie. Antivenom activity of Moringa oleifera leaves against pathophysiological alterations, somatic mutation and biological activities of Naja nigericollis venom. 2020,p9.

9. Mahanta M, Mukherjee AK. Neutralization of lethality, myotoxicity and toxic enzymes of Naja kaouthia venom by Mimosa pudica root extracts. J Ethanopharmacol 2001;75:55-60.

10. Thulasi Sivaraman, NS Sreedevi. Anti toxin activity of aqueous extract of Cyclea peltate root against Naja naja venom. 2017,p4.

11. Pranay Soni, Surendra H Bodakhe. Antivenom potential of ethanolic extract of Cordia macleodii bark against Naja venom. 2014,S449-S454

Manuscript Received	Review Round 1	Review Round 2	Review Round 3	Accepted
2022-11-01	2022-11-03	2022-11-10	2022-11-17	2022-11-24
Conflict of Interest	Funding	Ethical Approval	Plagiarism X-checker	Note
Nil	Nil	Yes	19%

Review Article

Snake bite

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences