Role of Plant-derived Bioactive Compounds in Potential Snakebite Envenoming: A Review

Abstract

: The issue of snakebite continues to be a distinctive matter of public health in various regions across the globe, with a particular emphasis on India, where the ailment is widely prevalent. Snakebites in the country disproportionately affect rural and indigenous populations, resulting in some of the highest morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Regrettably, in numerous tropical nations, the accessibility of antivenom is frequently postponed or restricted, thereby rendering antiserum the only targeted therapeutic alternative. Nevertheless, administering antiserum in isolation does not provide adequate safeguard against the adverse effects of venomtriggered hypersensitivity complications, which may be grave. Hence, this study aims to review the plant-derived bioactive compounds used to treat snakebites in India. This review compiles a list of medicinal plants and plant-derived bioactive compounds used in treating snakebites in India, which were reviewed from the available literature in public databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Springer, and Scopus). Search words used were 'bioactive compounds,' 'treatment for a snakebite,' 'antivenom and snakebite,' 'Medicinal plants for snakebite, and 'composition of snake venom'. : A list of 200 medicinal plants traditionally used in several countries for treating snake bites was obtained. Based on scientific data, we reviewed only 83 medicinal plant extracts and bioactive compounds obtained from various families, tested under in-vivo and in-vitro conditions to determine their neutralization potency of snakebite envenomation. In this article, we have presented a comprehensive review, judgmentally analyzed medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds for their therapeutic potential against snake envenomation, and offer a thorough discourse on diverse herbal plants employed globally for managing snakebites.