Anti-scorpion venom activity of Andrographis paniculata: A combined and comparative study with anti-scorpion serum in mice

Medicinal plants from Mexico used in the treatment of scorpion sting

Scorpion sting envenomation is a major public health in Mexico. Rural communities rarely have antivenoms in the health centers, therefore, the people commonly resort to using medicinal plants to treat the symptoms of envenoming caused by scorpion venom, but this knowledge has not yet been reported in detail. In this review, we carry out a review of the medicinal plants used in Mexico against scorpion stings. PubMed, Google, Science Direct, and the Digital Library of Mexican Traditional Medicine (DLMTM) were used to collect data. The results showed the use of at least 48 medicinal plants distributed in 26 families, where Fabaceae (14.6%), Lamiaceae (10.4%), and Asteraceae (10.4%) have the maximum representation. The application of leaves (32%) was preferred followed by roots (20%), stem (17.3%), flowers (16%), and bark (8%). In addition, the most common method of use to treat scorpion stings is decoction (32.5%). The oral and topical routes of administration have similar percentages of use. In vitro and in vivo studies of Aristolochia elegans, Bouvardia ternifolia, and Mimosa tenuiflora were found, which showed an antagonistic effect on the contraction of the ileum caused by the venom of C. limpidus, likewise, they increased the LD₅₀ of said venom and even B. ternofila showed reduced albumin extravasation. The results of these studies demonstrate the promising use of medicinal plants for future pharmacological applications; nevertheless, validation, bioactive compound isolation and toxicity studies are necessary to support and improve therapeutics.

Ethnomedicines for the treatment of scorpion stings: A perspective study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Scorpion sting is a public health concern with limited clinical symptomatic treatment. The clinical treatment uses anti-scorpion antivenom and prazosin (α-adrenergic inhibitor), often in combination with insulin, to reduce scorpion venom-induced hyperglycemia and other complications. However, these therapies also possess some limitations, necessitating urgent exploration of ethnomedicines, mainly traditional medicinal plants, to treat scorpion stings. Unfortunately, several conventional treatments are not scientifically validated, thus raising questions about their quality and utility. Therefore, pharmacological re-assessment of such medicinal plants to alleviate scorpion stings' complications is essential.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The principal objectives of this study are to provide a brief overview of medically important scorpions of the world, outline the extant traditional practices, and comprehensively review plants used in conventional ethnic medicines to treat scorpion stings over time. Modern technological advances in identifying and characterizing plant bioactive molecules are also mentioned in this review.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The traditionally used medicinal plants against scorpion stings were reviewed from the available literature in the database. The Plant List (http://www.theplantlist.org/) was used to validate the scientific names of the plants mentioned in this study. The search targeted literature on conventional treatments and crude plant extracts or their bioactive components with proven neutralization capacity against scorpion stings. Search words used were 'scorpion sting,' 'treatment for a scorpion sting,' 'antivenom and scorpion sting,' 'traditional treatment for scorpion stings, and 'natural compounds against scorpion stings'.

RESULTS

A list of more than 200 medicinal plants traditionally used in several countries for treating scorpion stings is presented in this review. Though some myth-based remedies are practiced to treat scorpion stings, no empirical evidence exists to validate this aspect of traditional knowledge. Only 38 traditional medicinal plant extracts have been tested under in-vivo and in-vitro conditions to determine their neutralization potency of scorpion envenomation. Although a few bioactive plant constituents showing scorpion venom neutralization potency have been characterized, they are not yet commercially available for clinical application.

CONCLUSIONS

There is tremendous potential locked in medicinal plants' traditional knowledge for scorpion envenomation treatment. Translating this knowledge into the clinical application will require pharmacological reassessment, in tandem with isolation and characterization of active compounds to prove their prophylactic prowess. Almost equally important would be the formulation of stringent strategies to conserve such medicinal plants from overexploitation.

The epidemiology of scorpion stings in tropical areas of Kermanshah province, Iran, during 2008 and 2009

Background

Scorpion stings are an acute health problem in tropical regions. Awareness of this problem is fundamental for establishing preventive interventions, thus prompting the present study to determine the scorpion-sting incidence in tropical areas of Kermanshah province during 2008 and 2009.

Methods

In a retrospective study, all records related to scorpion sting patients from the health centers of tropical areas of Kermanshah were studied by a census and checklist. Data were analyzed by the software SPSS-16 using descriptive and inferential tests.

Results

The incidence of scorpion stings was 334.37/100,000 inhabitants in 2008 and 339.07/100000 in 2009. Mean and standard deviation of age were 30.55 ± 16.99. Scorpion stings were more common in rural areas (59.6 %) and occurred more often in summer (52.9 %). Nearly 48 % of bites were to patients’ hands and 47.5 % of patients were injured between midnight and 6 a.m. While 92.9 % of patients had mild symptoms, scorpion antivenom was prescribed to 88.8 % of victims, 94.5 % of whom were discharged after outpatient treatment. The relationship between antivenom therapy and clinical symptoms was not significant.

Conclusions

Due to the relatively high incidence of scorpion stings in tropical areas of Kermanshah, it is recommended that the inhabitants be educated through the mass media about how to prevent the stings and apply preliminary treatment.

TRAMIL ethnomedicinal survey in Jamaica

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

A survey was undertaken in Jamaica to document medicinal plants frequently used in the treatment or prophylaxis of illness and trends in their use, following the methodology established by the TRAMIL network. TRAMIL, a Caribbean-wide applied research programme, scientifically evaluates and documents the efficacy and safety of medicinal plant remedies used for primary health care. Initial results from this survey, on an aspect of safety, focusing on the concomitant use and prevalence of medicinal plant use in combination with pharmaceutical drugs in Jamaica, were published in an earlier paper in 2011. This paper now reports survey results on the ethnobotanical use of medicinal plants by Jamaicans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A survey using a structured and modified TRAMIL questionnaire was administered to 407 adults selected randomly from systematically selected households within randomly selected clusters. The clusters were selected from each of the three areas that were purposefully selected.

KEY FINDINGS

Respondents identified their use of 107 botanically identified medicinal plants distributed in 51 plant families to treat illnesses or maintain health in the previous twelve months. Fourteen plants, with significant use equal to or greater than 20% for a specified health issue were shortlisted, representing Jamaica׳s first submission to the TRAMIL database. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Rice Bitters) was reported as a plant remedy with significant use for the first time in a TRAMIL survey. Informant consensus factor (ICF) values were high for a number of health issues such as mental health (nerves, insomnia, etc.), respiratory system (cold/flu/cough etc.) and for health maintenance with tonics (washout and blood cleanse), indicating strong cultural coherence in medicinal plant selection for these categories. Forty two per cent (113/270) of medicinal plant users utilised mixtures, combining more than one plant. Leaf material was the most commonly used plant part (69%), with fresh material (98%) most commonly prepared as a tea for internal use by decoction (87%). The majority of medicinal plant respondents sourced plants from their backyards (75%) and cited grandmothers (33%) and mothers (32%) as their main sources of information. Jamaicans reported limited use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), supporting the assertion that a significant number of citizens in developing countries continue to rely on the use of medicinal plants for primary healthcare.

CONCLUSIONS

Medicinal plant use continues to play an important role in primary healthcare in Jamaica. Fourteen plant remedies with significant use are reported, five previously reported elsewhere and recommended (REC) for the same health condition. Eight plant remedies, including one Jamaican endemic, are reported for different health issues for the first time to TRAMIL and will be investigated (INV) for the new health conditions, together with one plant remedy reported for the first time. This latest survey will be followed by literature reviews, appropriate laboratory screens (TRIG) and community outreach activities (TRADIF) in Jamaica.