Ethnopharmacological Survey of Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers and Indigenous People in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh, for the Treatment of Snakebite

Table 3

Doses of the available plants.

S/L number	Name of the plants	Doses
1	Abelmoschus moschatus Medic.	Paste of leaf, fruit, and seed is used on the infected area 2/3 times daily for 2/3 days. Juice of leaf, fruit, and seed is also taken by grinding with milk and sugar.
2	Abroma augusta Linn. f.	Root juice is used after maceration.
3	Abrus precatorius L.	Seed powder is mixed with Andrographis paniculata seed powder to consume with lemon juice.
4	Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.	3-4 pieces of fresh root are crushed and squeezed; the extract is taken 3–5 times a day for 1 day.
5	Acalypha indica L.	Whole plant is made into paste, and the paste thus obtained is divided into 4-5 equal parts; each part is given at 6-hour intervals as an antidote.
6	Achyranthes aspera L.	Fresh leaves extract of about 2 teaspoonfuls is given 4–6 times a day.
7	Acorus calamus L.	Fresh rhizome is made into paste. The paste is given with a glass of lukewarm water twice a day for 3 successive days.
8	Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. Serr.	Whole plants, in tender condition, are made into paste. The paste thus obtained is divided into two equal halves, one half mixed with rice beer applied for cleaning the biting site and the other half again divided into 6 equal portions, and each part is given at an interval of 4–6 hours of time for one day.
9	Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth.	Fresh root of about one inch long, collected from the plants which are yet not flowered, is given once as an antidote of snakebite.
10	Allium cepa L.	Two teaspoonfuls of bulb juice of the plant mixed with mustard oil and administered to expel poison by vomiting.
11	Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees	(1) Fresh root and leaves are mixed in a ratio of 2 : 3 and the whole mixture is made into paste with a little water. The paste thus obtained is divided into 12–16 equal parts (based on the condition of the patient) and each part is given at regular intervals of 1-2 hours for 2-3 days.; (2) Root paste along with honey in equal parts is given 6–8 times a day as an antidote of snake venom.
12	Annona squamosa L.	Incision of snakebite is washed with the juice of plants.
13	Aristolochia indica L.	(1) Fresh root extract mixed with equal amount of root extract of Rauvolfia serpentina is given 4–6 times a day.; (2) Root paste along with honey in equal parts is given 6–8 times a day.
14	Asparagus racemosus Willd.	Leaf extract is applied on the bitten area.
15	Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell	Dried plant (except the root portion) powder, about 1 teaspoonful, is given with a cup of warm goat milk or black tea 2-3 times of day as an antidote of snakebite.
16	Baliospermum montanum L.	Paste is prepared with leaf and applied externally twice a day for 4/5 days.
17	Begonia barbata C.B. Clarke	Paste is prepared with stem and leaves and applied once a day for 2/3 days.
18	Bombax ceiba L.	Fresh young shoots (3–5 pieces) are made into paste with black peppers seed (Piper nigrum) and a pinch of camphor (Karpur); the paste thus obtained is given after mixing with a spoonful of honey as an antidote of snake venom.
19	Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub.	Stem bark (fresh or dried) about 20 g is made into paste with zinger (rhizome of Zingiber officinale). The whole paste thus obtained is divided into four equal parts. Each of these 4 parts is given 4 times a day.
20	Byttneria pilosa Roxb.	Paste of stem and leaf is applied twice a day until the area is cured.
21	Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth.	Paste is made with seed powder of the plant and the juice of leaf of Senna tora. It is then applied twice a day for 2/3 days.
22	Calotropis gigantea (L.) Ait. f.	Fresh root with milk of cow is ground to a fine paste and taken as an antidote for snakebite.
23	Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait. f.	About three drops of latex are put on the snake-bitten area and pressed downwards to bleed; root extract is given two cups a day; flower powder is mixed with black pepper and taken.
24	Calycopteris floribunda Lamk.	Root juice is used in infected area.
25	Capparis zeylanica L.	Dried fruits with seeds are made into dust; this dust is given as 1 teaspoonful with a glass of lukewarm water as a snake venom antidote.
26	Cassia fistula L.	As a remedy against snakebite, one teaspoonful fruit powder is taken internally.
27	Cassia occidentalis L.	20–30 gm of root (fresh or dried) is made into paste with 3-4 pieces of   “garlic” (Allium sativum) and a little “gur” (Jaggery); the whole mixture thus obtained is given as an antidote to snakebite.
28	Cassia sophera L.	Root (fresh or dried) of about 20 gm is made into paste with 5–7 pieces of black peepers (seeds of Piper nigrum) and the paste is given as an antidote.
29	Catharanthus roseus D. Don	Leaf is grinded after maceration.
30	Cissampelos pareira L.	Root paste with 10 g long pepper is prescribed once daily for 5 days.
31	Cissus adnata Roxb.	Leaf paste is applied on infected place.
32	Cissus javana DC.	Paste is made with leaf and stem, mixing with lime, and applied externally on the biting place tying a piece of cloth for 3/4 days.
33	Clitoria ternatea L.	Root powder mixed with milk is taken orally immediately after snakebite.
34	Cycas pectinata Griff.	Paste of flower is applied thrice a day for 2/3 days.
35	Cyperus rotundus L.	Bulb powder mixed with cow butter to treat snakebite.
36	Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC.	Juice is prepared with shoots and mixing with shoots of Peperomia pellucida and 2 spoonfuls are taken thrice a day for 4/5 days.
37	Emblica officinalis Gaertn.	Stem infusion is given orally as an antidote.
38	Entada rheedii Spreng.	Paste is prepared with leaf and applied externally once a day for 4/5 days.
39	Erythrina variegata L.	Stamen and root bark are mixed in a ratio of 1 : 3 and then they are made into paste. This paste is applied in both ways externally and internally to reduce the swelling, pain of snakebite.
40	Ficus racemosa L.	A few drops of its decoction are put into the nostrils, resulting into vomiting and relief; bark paste is applied over the injury.
41	Gmelina arborea L.	Inner portion of fresh root (after peeling off the bark) about 20 g is made into paste and this paste is given with a spoonful of honey as an antidote of snakebite.
42	Hedyotis scandens Roxb.	Paste is prepared with leaf and stem and applied in warmed condition externally twice a day for 3/4 days.
43	Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br.	Root paste is applied as an antidote to snakebite.
44	Holarrhena antidysenterica (Heyne ex Roth.) Conessi	The roots were rubbed on a stone with a few drops of water and the paste obtained is given internally and applied externally in snakebite.
45	Holarrhena pubescens (Bach.-Ham.) Wall.	Seed paste is applied locally as antidote and also for reducing the swelling and pain of snakebite.
46	Homalomena aromatica (Roxb. ex Sims) Schott.	Paste of rhizomes is applied until the area is cured.
47	Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit.	Juice is extracted from leaf and applied externally twice a day for 3 days.
48	Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) Br.	Fresh roots (about 100 g) are crushed and squeezed; the aqueous extract thus obtained is given 10–12 times a day as an antidote.
49	Ixora cuneifolia Roxb.	Bark is grinded with water and the paste applied on the biting area twice a day for 4/5 days.
50	Justicia gendarussa Burm.	Fresh leaves extract is given 20–30 mL at every 1-hour interval for up to 18 hours of snakebite as an antidote.
51	Lantana camara L.	Decoction of roots, flowers, and stems is prescribed.
52	Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link.	Leaves with pepper and garlic are chewed and spit into the nostrils.
53	Melastoma malabathricum L.	Juice is prepared with leaf and applied externally twice a day for 3/4 days.
54	Melochia corchorifolia L.	Leaf paste is applied on infected place.
55	Mirabilis jalapa L.	Leaf juice is extracted and 2 spoonfuls are taken twice a day for 2/3 days. Also it is applied topically twice a day in infected areas.
56	Morinda angustifolia Roxb.	4 spoonfuls of extracted leaf juice are taken thrice a day until the area is cured.
57	Morinda persicifolia Ham.	Paste is prepared with leaf and applied externally twice a day for 3/4 days.
58	Mussaenda roxburghii Hook. f.	Paste of leaf is applied on the infected place with tying a piece of cloth.
59	Peliosanthes teta Andr.	Paste is prepared with root tuber and applied externally once a day for 2 days.
60	Peperomia pellucida (L.) HBK	Juice is prepared with shoots and mixing with shoots of Desmodium triflorum and 2 spoonfuls are taken thrice a day for 4/5 days.
61	Polygonum chinense L.	Paste is prepared with leaf and applied externally once a day for 2 days.
62	Pouzolzia indica Gaud.	Paste of leaves is applied twice a day for 2/3 days.
63	Premna esculenta Roxb.	Paste is prepared with leaf and applied externally twice a day for 3/4 days.
64	Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz	Roots and leaf buds are crushed with milk and made into a paste and used internally and externally on the affected area; rhizome and root decoction is given orally.
65	Senna hirsuta (L.) Irwin & Barneby	Paste of leaf is applied topically on the biting place.
66	Senna tora (L.) Roxb.	Paste is prepared with leaf and applied once a day for 2/3 days.
67	Sida cordifolia L.	Leaf juice is applied to cure snakebite.
68	Sida rhombifolia L.	Paste is prepared with leaf and stem and applied topically once a day to infected areas. Also juice of extracted leaf and stem is 2 spoonfuls which are taken four times a day for 4/5 days.
69	Solanum torvum Swartz.	Root juice is mixed with 250 mL water and 100 mL mustard oil. First, ammonium chloride is rubbed on the snake-bitten area and then the mixture of root juice, water, and oil is given orally. Otherwise, 1 handful of fruit is boiled in 1/2 litre of water. The fruits are then squeezed to get the juice, which is orally given to the snake-bitten person to vomit out the poison.
70	Tamarindus indica L.	To treat snakebite, spoonful powder with honey is consumed thrice a day after every two hours.
71	Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wt. & Arn.	Stem bark powder (about 10 g) is made into paste with a teaspoon full of honey and 5–7 pieces of black pepper (Piper nigrum); this paste is given with a glass of lukewarm goat milk as an antidote to snake venom.
72	Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers	Stem juice is used to cure snakebite.
73	Trewia nudiflora L.	Paste of leaf is applied topically on the biting place.
74	Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour.	Root juice is prepared after maceration and 1 spoonful is taken twice a day until the area is cured.
75	Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merrill.	Handful of leaves is crushed in urine of snake-bitten person and 2-3 drops of extract are passed through the nostrils.
76	Urena lobata L.	Decoction of root along with leaves of Adhatoda vasica, Alangium salvifolium, and Cocciniagrandis is taken internally.
77	Vitis lanata Roxb.	Paste is prepared with leaf and applied externally once a day for 3/4 days.
78	Willughbeia edulis Roxb.	Latex is collected from stem and applied externally thrice a day for 2/3 days.