Mokua Stella Kwamboka, Mbaria James Mucunu, Maitho Timothy Elias, Moriasi Gervason Apiri
Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Mount Kenya University, P.O. Box 342-01000, Thika, Kenya.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Sep 27;2021:4167296. doi: 10.1155/2021/4167296. eCollection 2021.
Snakebite envenomation (SBE) is a life-threatening global public health problem affecting over 2.7 million persons annually, with a bigger burden lying in the developing world. Despite the successful management of SBE by antivenom therapy in conventional medicine, it is of low efficacy due to the diverse venom composition across snake types, which limits its usefulness. As a result, inhabitants of the sub-Sahara region, where SBE incidence is high, utilise medicinal plants as an alternative remedy for SBE. However, most plants have not been ethnobotanically documented and validated empirically and hence this study is needed. An ethnobotanical survey to document medicinal plants used to manage SBE in Migwani ward, Mwingi West Subcounty, Kitui County, was conducted between January and February, 2021. Ethnobotanical data were collected from 45 purposefully sampled respondents from Migwani ward using semistructured questionnaires, field walks, and oral interviews. In this study, 14 medicinal plants which are used to manage SBE were documented. Four plants with the highest Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) ( Harms-stem bark (0.58), -roots (0.53), -roots (0.36), and -stem bark (0.46)) were selected and extracted using water, methanol, and dichloromethane according to the standard procedures. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts and their cytotoxic effects on brine shrimp nauplii (brine shrimp lethality assay) was conducted according to the standard techniques. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of anti-SBE-associated phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenols, and flavonoids, in the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the studied plant extracts. However, the tested phytochemicals were not detected in dichloromethane extracts of all the studied extracts. The anti-SBE effects of the documented plants could be attributable to these associated bioactive phytocompounds, which are synthesized by the studied plants and transfered to humans when consumed. Furthermore, the aqueous and methanolic extracts of and had high LC of >1000 g/ml and were considered noncytotoxic. However, had an LC of <1000 g/ml and was considered slightly cytotoxic. Further empirical investigations to characterise the bioactive phytochemicals and their safety should be done.
蛇咬伤中毒（SBE）是一个危及生命的全球公共卫生问题，每年影响超过270万人，发展中世界负担更重。尽管传统医学中抗蛇毒血清疗法对蛇咬伤中毒的治疗取得了成功，但由于不同蛇类毒液成分各异，其疗效较低，限制了其应用。因此，撒哈拉以南地区蛇咬伤中毒发病率较高，当地居民将药用植物作为蛇咬伤中毒的替代疗法。然而，大多数植物尚未进行民族植物学记录和实证验证，因此需要开展这项研究。2021年1月至2月，在基图伊县姆温吉西县姆瓦尼选区开展了一项民族植物学调查，以记录用于治疗蛇咬伤中毒的药用植物。通过半结构化问卷、实地走访和口头访谈，从姆瓦尼选区45名有目的地抽样的受访者那里收集了民族植物学数据。在本研究中，记录了14种用于治疗蛇咬伤中毒的药用植物。选取了引用频率最高（RFC）的四种植物（哈姆斯茎皮（0.58）、根（0.53）、根（0.36）和茎皮（0.46）），并按照标准程序用水、甲醇和二氯甲烷进行提取。根据标准技术对植物提取物进行定性植物化学分析及其对卤虫无节幼体的细胞毒性作用（卤虫致死率测定）。定性植物化学筛选显示，在所研究植物提取物的水提取物和甲醇提取物中存在与抗蛇咬伤中毒相关的植物化学物质，如生物碱、皂苷、单宁、酚类和黄酮类。然而，在所有研究提取物的二氯甲烷提取物中未检测到所测试的植物化学物质。所记录植物的抗蛇咬伤中毒作用可能归因于这些相关的生物活性植物化合物，它们由所研究的植物合成，并在食用时转移到人体。此外，[植物名称1]和[植物名称2]的水提取物和甲醇提取物的LC值>1000μg/ml，被认为无细胞毒性。然而，[植物名称3]的LC值<1000μg/ml，被认为有轻微细胞毒性。应进一步开展实证研究，以表征生物活性植物化学物质及其安全性。
