The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2021;10(5):378-384 ;   DOI:10.31254/phyto.2021.10517

Research Article

Snake bites frequency and ethnopharmacological study of plants used against ophidian’s envenomation (Bassar District)

G’massampou Datagni¹ , Kossi Metowogo¹ , Tcha Pakoussi¹ , Aklesso Pouwelong Mouzou¹ , Komla Kaboua¹ , Kwashie Eklu-Gadegbeku¹

G’massampou Datagni,Kossi Metowogo,Tcha Pakoussi,Aklesso Pouwelong Mouzou,Komla Kaboua,Kwashie Eklu-Gadegbeku

1. Unit of Research Physiopathology, Bioactive Substances and Harmlessness, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lome, BP: 1515 Lomé-Togo

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 14th August, 2021 / Accepted: 29th September, 2021

Abstract

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The snake bites victims’ proportion is not well known among the population and statistical values are not available to consider snake bites as a significant cause of death especially in rural Africa. In Togo, the rural population uses various plants for the treatment of snake bites. The objective of this work is to conduct two types of surveys, namely the prospective survey and the retrospective survey in Bassar district (Togo) to obtain scientific data on cases of snake bites in rural areas and plants species use in snake bites treatment. The results obtained show that the population at risk is made up of men (70.2%) aged between 20 and 40 years, mostly farmers (58.3%). There are more snake bites in the rainy season (80.8 %). Echis ocellatus is responsible for 78.3 % of bite cases followed by Bitis arietens (8.7%). Twenty-two plant species have been recorded and Annona senegalensis, Securidaca longepedunculata and Hannoa undulata are the most cited. These results prove that snake bites remain a significant public health problem, especially in rural areas.

Keywords

Echis ocellatus, Snake bites, Annona senegalensis, Securidaca longepedunculata.

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