Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of anti-snakebite plants used in Bissok District of Gabon

Abstract

Abstract. Mengome, Mewono L, Mboma R, Engohang-Ndong J, Angone SA. 2021. Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of anti-snakebite plants used in Bissok District of Gabon. Biodiversitas 22: 3264-3275. Snakebites remain a major health issue in tropical and subtropical regions in the world. The limited access of antivenom sera in remote areas of many countries forces populations to rely on plant-based remedies to manage snakebite-induced injury. In this study, we conducted an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for the management of snakebites in the district of Bissok (Northern Gabon). After collecting and verifying the authenticity of the plants, we further performed their phytochemical analysis. The procedure used in this study involved a structured questionnaire and direct interviews of local populations. Overall, data collected on-site included local names, the part of the plant used, the preparation, and the route of administration. The presence of some phytochemical compounds was determined according to standard methods. Overall, a total of 29 species of plants belonging to 20 different families were reported to be used to treat snakebites. The plants used were herbs (44.80%), trees (24.10%), shrubs (20.70%), liana (10.30%), and rhizomes (6.90%). They were mainly used as poultice or crush, and to a lesser extent as decoction and maceration. Regarding the route of administration, interviewees reported mainly external use on the site of the bite. Concerning the chemical composition, we found that the antivenom plants were rich in chemical compounds known to have antivenom, antipyretic and antimicrobial properties, e.g. alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, coumarins, phenols, tannins gallic Our results open avenues to develop venom enzyme inhibitory assays.

A scoping review of the use of traditional medicine for the management of ailments in West Africa

“…As shown in Table 1 , the publication period for the 49 manuscripts spanned from 1979 to 2023. The distribution across time revealed four (8.2%) were published between 1979 and 1990 [ 31 – 33 , 35 ], 20 (40.8%) were published between 1991 and 2000 [ 14 – 19 , 20 – 23 , 25 , 38 , 41 – 43 , 46 , 49 , 51 , 57 , 59 ], 13 (26.5%) were from 2001 to 2010 [ 26 , 36 , 37 , 40 , 44 , 47 , 48 , 50 , 52 – 56 ], seven (14.3%) papers from 2011 to 2020 [ 27 – 30 , 39 , 58 , 62 ], and five (10.2%) papers from 2021 to 2023 [ 24 , 34 , 45 , 59 , 61 ].…”

“…Of the 17 West African countries, only nine have publications on traditional medicines. These countries include Nigeria, which accounts for 25 (51.0%) of the publications [ 14 , 16 – 18 , 20 – 26 , 30 , 31 , 33 – 36 , 38 , 41 – 43 , 48 , 49 , 53 , 56 ], Ghana accounting for nine (18.4%) of the publications [ 27 – 29 , 39 , 40 , 45 , 50 , 52 , 54 ], Mali [ 15 , 37 , 47 , 57 ] and Togo [ 19 , 46 , 51 , 59 ] accounting for four (8.2%) publications each, Benin accounting for three (6.1%) publication [ 51 , 60 , 62 ], Cote d’Ivoire accounting for two (4.1%) publications [ 44 , 55 ], and Sierra Leone [ 32 ], Guinea Bissau [ 58 ] and Gabon [ 61 ], each having one (2.0%) publication. A publication was produced by Togo and Benin [ 51 ].…”

“…The part of the plants used for medicinal purposes range from the aerial part of plants [ 58 ] to barks [ 15 , 16 , 24 , 27 , 37 , 39 , 45 , 47 , 58 , 60 – 62 ], bulbs [ 60 ], branches [ 32 , 58 , 60 ], climbers [ 39 ], flowers [ 39 , 58 ], fruits [ 15 , 24 , 27 , 39 , 45 , 47 , 60 , 62 ], gum [ 15 ], juice [ 60 ], leaves [ 15 , 16 , 24 , 27 , 32 , 36 , 37 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 58 , 60 – 62 ], liana [ 61 , 62 ], male plant-inflorescences [ 16 ], nuts [ 60 ], pods [ 16 , 37 ], rhizome [ 15 , 16 , 39 , 60 , 61 ], roots [ 15 , 27 , …”

“…The prepared remedies could be applied topically applied [ 15 , 36 , 39 , 60 , 61 ], inhaled [ 16 ], taken orally [ 60 , 61 ], used as scarification [ 60 ], or intranasally applied [ 15 , 39 ]. It can be prepared as a decoction [ 15 , 16 , 27 , 32 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 47 , 60 , 62 ], powder [ 15 , 37 , 39 , 47 , 62 ], poultice [ 15 , 32 , 39 , 61 ], oil [ 39 ], juice [ 15 , 32 , 36 , 39 , 61 ], macerated [ 15 , 39 , 47 , 60 – 62 ] or taken as food [ 24 , 58 , 60 ], soup [ 36 , 39 ], tea [ 39 ] or taken as raw fruit [ 39 ]. The remedies could also be used for bathing [ 36 ], as an enema [ 15 ], for infusion [ 16 , 27 , 32 , 47 , ...…”

“…It can be prepared as a decoction [ 15 , 16 , 27 , 32 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 47 , 60 , 62 ], powder [ 15 , 37 , 39 , 47 , 62 ], poultice [ 15 , 32 , 39 , 61 ], oil [ 39 ], juice [ 15 , 32 , 36 , 39 , 61 ], macerated [ 15 , 39 , 47 , 60 – 62 ] or taken as food [ 24 , 58 , 60 ], soup [ 36 , 39 ], tea [ 39 ] or taken as raw fruit [ 39 ]. The remedies could also be used for bathing [ 36 ], as an enema [ 15 ], for infusion [ 16 , 27 , 32 , 47 , 61 ], as a fumigant [ 15 ], or for gargling [ 15 , 32 , 37 ], triturate [ 60 , 61 ] and shampoo [ 15 ].…”