A potential antivenin activity of indian medicinal herbs with special reference to south west bengal, india national seminar-human physilogy-2018-prof.a.k.mondal-bot-vu

Professor of Botany and Coordinator of
UGC-DRS-SAP and DBT-BOOST
Department of Botany & Forestry
VIDYASAGAR UNIVERSITY
Midnapore-721102
West Bengal India
Email: akmondal@mail.vidyasagar.ac.in

National Seminar-27-29th March, 2018- Department of Human Physiology Lecture-Prof. A.K.Mondal-Professor and Coordinator-VU
Number of Snake bite in India (statistics)
In India every year roughly 46,000 people die from
snakebites.
According to the American Society of Tropical
Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) that accounting
for nearly 100,000 annual snakebite deaths in the
world, (May 16, 2017).

Dominating death rate from
Snake bite in the different
states

Asnake bite is an injury caused by a bite from a snake,
often resulting in puncture wounds inflicted by the
animal's fangs and sometimes resulting in en-venomation.
Although the majority of snake species are non
venomous and typically kill their prey with constriction
rather than venom, venomous snakes can be found on
every continent except in Antarctica.
Snakes often bite their prey as a method of hunting, but
also for defensive purposes against predators.

Snake en-venomation is an
important global health issue.
It constitutes an occupational
hazard mainly in the field of
agriculture.

Highest incidence and mortality
due to snake bites is reported from
South and Southeast Asian
countries having extensive
agricultural practices and
diversity in snake species.

1. Lack of Poor health services,
2. Lack of good Transportation, and
3. Delay in the anti-snake venom
administration especially in rural areas
are the 3 important factors responsible
for high mortality.
Factors responsible for high mortality due to

It is estimated that in India alone, there
are more than 2,00,000 venomous bites per
year, of which 35,000–50,000 are fatal.
The estimates are arbitrary as majority
of deaths are unreported.

In rural areas, where most of the bites
take place, the victims are mostly taken to
traditional healers, who neither report
them to the authorities nor document the
cases,
Hence paucity of reliable epidemiological
data.

1. Including the species of snake ,
2. The area of the body bitten,
3.The amount of venom injected, and
4.The health conditions of the victim.
The outcome of snake bites depends on numerous
factors:

Feelings of terror and panic are common
after a snake bite and can produce a
characteristic set of symptoms mediated by
the autonomic nervous system, such as a
racing heart and nausea.
Bites from non-venomous snakes can also
cause injury, often due to lacerations caused
by the snake's teeth .

Characters of SNAKE VENOM
Snake venom is highly modified saliva that is produced
by special glands of certain species of snakes.
Chemistry of venom:- Snake venom consists of
Proteins,
Enzymes ,
Substances with a cytotoxic effect ,
Neurotoxins and coagulants .
Phosphodiesterases are used to interfere with the prey's cardiac system,
mainly to lower the blood pressure.
Phospholipase A2 causes haemolysis .

There are four distinct types of venom that act on
the body differently
Proteolytic venom dismantles the molecular structure
of the area surrounding and including the bite.
Hemotoxic venoms act on the heart and cardiovascular
system.
Neurotoxic venom acts on the nervous system and
brain.
Cytotoxic venom has a localized action at the site of the
bite.

SNAKE BITE TREATMENT
Antivenom is a biological product used in the treatment of
venomous bites or stings.
Antivenom is created by injecting a small amount of the targeted
venom into an animal such as a horse, sheep, goat, or rabbit;
Animal will undergo an immune response to the
venom, producing antibodies against the venom's active molecule
which can then be harvested from the animal's blood and used to
treat en-venomation.
Preparation based on the standards of Pharmacopoeia and the
World Health Organization (WHO).

TREATMENT OF SNAKE BITE
1. Wash the area thoroughly with soap
and water.
2. Immobilize the area and keep it lower
than the heart area.
3. Get medical attention as soon as
possible.
FIRST AID

SPECIFIC SERUM TREATMENT
Immediate neutralization of the circulating
venom is of utmost importance.
For fast effect, the Anti Snake Venom
Serum should be injected intravenously as
soon as possible after the bite.

Due to the problems related to AVS
therapy, people are always in search for
alternative medicines.
The usage of medicinal plants, in the
treatment of various ailments is known
to us since ancient times.

There are various medicinal plants which
have been used against snake en-
venomation in folk and traditional
medicines.
Atharva Veda, Rig Veda, Charak & Sushruta
Samhita of the Indian continent mentions
the usage of various herbal antidotes against
snake en-venomation.

Already there are 2,50,000 - 5,00,000 varieties
of plants found world wide, out of which 25% are
of medicinal value.
Plants possess strong neutralizing capacities like
Pluchea indica ,
Hemidesmus indicus (Alam),
Strychnous nux vomica (Chatterjee),
Emblica officinalis,
Vitex negundu (Alam & Gomes)
Curcuma aromatica possess strong neutralizing capacities.

Pluchea indica ,
family, Asteraceae.
Hemidesmus indicus
Anantmool
Asclepidiacea
Kuchla,
Strychnos nux vomica
Loganiaceae

Emblica officinalis
family Phyllanthaceae
Vitex negundo
Family Verbenaceae

Curcuma aromatica
family Zingiberaceae

Aristolochia indica,
Andrographis paniculata,
Dolichondron sp.,
Crotolaria juncea,
Croton tiglium,
Moringa oliefera
Moderate type of venom neutralizing capacity

Pluchea indica: 2-Hydroxy-4 Methoxy–
Benzoic Acid.
Emblica officinalis: β–sitosterol &
stigmasterol
Hemidesmus indicus: Di- iso-butyl
phthalate
Pure active compound have been isolated

Rauwolfia serpentina– ‘Sarpagandhi’ (Apocynaceae)
since this plant containing the tranquilising alkaloid and
Reserpine. SARPAGANDHA
Plants used against snake bite in India

Allium sativum (Garlic, Liliaceae ) and
Pseudocalyma alliceaum, (Garlic vine
Bignoniaceae).
Pseudocalyma alliceaum, Bignoniaceae
Allium sativum, Liliaceae

Stimulate the immune system -
Aristolochia species (Aristolochiaceae)
Analgesic and

Rhapidophora pertusa (Araceae)- Anti-
inflammatory effects

The whole plant of Aristolochia indica or
Aristolochia tagala (1 part),
1 part of Bark of Ficus religiosa ( Moraceae ),
And 1 part of powder of Piper longum (black
pepper, Family: Piperaceae) are gently mixed
together and used as nasal inhaler.
Recover from the coma caused by snake bite
with the use of a good mixture like:

Other major plants for snake bites Plant Family
Local name Part used Tribe used
Seeds of Strychnos nux vomica
Roots of Helecteres isora

Root of Edampiri valampiri
(Helecteres isora )
Seeds of Cyperus rotundus

Stem of Calycopteris floribunda
Root and Leaves of
Rhinacanthus nasuta

Aristolochic acid from Aristolochia species
(Aristolochiaceae)
Major phyto-compounds responsible for anti venom activity
Aristolochic acid
Aristolochic acids are a
family of
carcinogenic, mutagenic, and
nephrotoxic phytochemicals

Gymnemic acids (Triterpenoid glycosides) from
Gymnema sylvestre ( Asclepiadaceae ) for anti venom
activity


Coumestan, wedelolactone stigmasterol
and Sitosterol - Eclipta prostrata (Asteraceae)
for anti venom activity
Sitosterol

The tannin from Diospyros perigrina ( Ebenaceae )
tannin
Diospyros perigrina

Turmerone - Curcuma longa ( Zingiberaceae )
Turmerone

In view of the number of deaths caused
by snake bite, particularly where anti
venom is not readily accessible, the
development of thermostable cheap
remedies suitable for emergency
treatment is important.

The plants may provide the
source for individual compound
or standardized extract which
could be of benefit in many
places where snake bite is a
serious public health hazard.

Importance of Medicinal Plants in India
More than 6000 plant species used for health care in India
under folk and codified Indian Medical Systems.
Raw drugs obtained from 1178 plant species are in active
trade with annual trade volume of >5 lakh MT.
Trade value of medicinal herbs for the year 2016-17 has been
pegged at Rs. 9000 crores (>$ 2000 million).
Poor forest-side people form a significant beneficiary group of
this trade.

1st
2nd
3rd
12%

I

Conservation Status of Medicinal Plants
• About 375 medicinal plant species 29 plant species for
preparation of herbal anti venom have already been
assessed (in 21 States) as „Red-Listed‟ in India.
• 120 of these „Red-Listed‟ species are in active trade (46
„Critically Rare‟ “CR”species and 87
„Endangered‟ species)as per IUCN data)
• Industry forced to use „substitutes‟ that may
be less efficacious.

Some Red-Listed Medicinal Plants

The ethnic people of South West Bengal (mainly Santal) depend
on plants and their parts, to cure their health problems.
Approximately 150 species of medicinal plants are in common
use, and of these 45 species are heavily used in traditional
healthcare systems in South West Bengal.
About 16 plant species which are dominantly present in South
West Bengal Forest areas are actively involved with primary anti-
venom activities.
In present scenario, it was found that among these 45 species, 10
species are becoming increasingly rare and under threat of
extinction.

But these ethno medicinally important plants were
found rare or infrequent in the rural forest areas of South
West Bengal because of extensive use and various
anthropogenic activities.
To avoid biodiversity extinction some measures would
be taken, like
Cultivation of rare medicinal plants,
Provision of training and extension services to farmers engaged
in cultivation of medicinal plants,
Establishment of herbal gardens in forest areas and creation of
seed bank or germplasm.

Data collection from Ethnic people related with snake bites

Thank you

A potential antivenin activity of indian medicinal herbs with special reference to south west bengal, india national seminar-human physilogy-2018-prof.a.k.mondal-bot-vu

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