Ethnomedicinal plants used for treatment of snakebites in Tanzania – a systematic review

Figures & data

Figure 1. PRISMA study flow diagram for the ethnomedicinal data against snakebites.

Figure 2. Distribution of medicinal plants across nine Tanzanian regions.

Table 1. List of medicinal plants used for treatment of snakebites in rural communities of Tanzania.

Family	Species name	Local name	Growth form	Parts used	MoP and RoA	Reference
Acanthaceae	Crassocephalum mannii (Hook. f.)	Mgangogango	Shrub	Leaves	Decoction drunk	Maregesi et al. (2013)
	Justicia heterocarpa L.	Mwidu	Herb	Roots, leaves	Pounded parts taken orally	Amri and Kisangau (2012)
	Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims	Nyakatao	Herb	Leaves	Powdered leaves mixed with water to give a paste which is then applied in a small incision made on the bite	Maregesi et al. (2013)
Amaranthaceae	Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult.	Kambunyenye	Herb	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1987)
Anacardiaceae	Lannea schimperi (Hochst. ex A.Rich) Engl.	Mgumbu	Tree	Roots	Crushed and applied to the bite	Augustino et al. (2011)
	Ozoroa mucronata (Krauss) R. & A. Fern.	Mgombokilangu	Tree	Leaves	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1987)
Annonaceae	Annona senegalensis Pers.	Mtopetope	Tree	Roots, bark, leaves	Decoction drunk	Augustino et al. (2011), Kacholi (2014, 2020), Maregesi et al. (2013), Ruffo (1991)
	Friesodielsia obovata (Benth.) Verdc.	Msalasi	Shrub	Roots	Crush and then massage the affected area	Augustino et al. (2011), Ruffo (1991)
	Uvaria acuminata Oliv.	Msofu	Shrub	Roots	Decoction drunk	Chhabra et al. (1987)
Apocinaceae	Xylopia longipetala De Wild & T. Durand	Mlavilira	Tree	Bark	Not specified	Kacholi (2014)
Araceae	Gonatopus boivinii (Decne.) Engl.	Mzulu	Herb	Roots	Powdered roots applied to the bite	Chhabra et al. (1987)
Aristolochiaceae	Aristolochia spp.	Kilikamo	Climber	Roots	Not specified	Ruffo (1991)
Asteraceae	Blephurispermum zanguebaricum Oliv. & Hiern	Msekele	Shrub	Roots	Decoction drunk	Chhabra et al. (1989)
	Conyza canadensis L. Cronq.	Akamwisanga	Herb	Whole plant	Decoction drunk	Maregesi et al. (2013)
	Spilanthes mauritiana (Rich. ex Pers.) DC	Mtango	Herb	Whole plant	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1989)
	Vernonia amygdalina Del.	Mtugutu	Shrub	Leaves	Leaves chewed, and extract swallowed	Chhabra et al. (1989)
Bignoniaceae	Markhamia obtusifolia (Baker) Sprague	Ng’ubu	Tree	Roots	Chew and swallow the extracts	Chhabra and Mahunnah (1994)
Burseraceae	Commiphora africana (A.Rich.) Engl.	Mutonto	Tree	Bark	Crush and massage the affected area	Augustino et al. (2011)
Cannoraceae	Byrsocarps orientalis (Baill.) Baker	Mpandaradu	Herb	Roots	Dried roots are burnt, mixed with powdered charcoal and tobacco, and the infusion drunk	Chhabra et al. (1989)
Capparaceae	Capparis tomentosa Lam.	Mtungulang’osa	Tree	Leaves	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1989)
	Thylachium africanum Lour.	Mtomoni	Tree	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1989)
Celastraceae	Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell	Mwambangoma	Tree	Roots	Not specified	Ruffo (1991), Chhabra et al. (1989)
Combretaceae	Combretum apiculatum Sond.	Muhuluka	Tree	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1989)
	Combretum collinum Fresen.	Mulandala	Tree	Roots	Not specified	Ruffo (1991)
	Combretum obovatum F. Hoffm	Vugoveko	Tree	Roots	Crush roots, then massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011)
	Combretum zeyheri Sond.	Musana	Tree	Leaves	Crush roots, then massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011)
Convolvulaceae	Jacquemontia paniculata (Burm. f.) Hall. F.	Mwidilimbwi	Herb	Leaves	Fresh pounded leaves are applied to the bite	Chhabra et al. (1989)
Cucurbitaceae	Momordica foetida Schumach	Ruhunduhundu	Herb	Leaves	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1989)
Dilleniaceae	Tetracera boiviana Baill.	Mpinga	Tree	Roots, leaves	Powdered roots mixed with water and taken orally, while leaves are crushed and juice drunk	Chhabra et al. (1989)
Ebenaceae	Diospyros fischeri Guerke	Mufubata	Shrub	Roots	Crushing, then massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011)
	Diospyros usambarensis F. White	Mwiloiloi	Shrub	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1989)
	Euclea divinorum Hiern.	Mdaa	Shrub	Leaves	Crush leaves and massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011)
Euphorbiaceae	Acalypha fruticosa Forssk.	Mfulwe	Shrub	Aerial parts	Crushed and applied on incisions made on the bitten area	Chhabra et al. (1990b), Hedberg et al. (1983a)
	Cyathogyne bussei Pax	Mzidishanguvu	Shrub	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1990b)
	Euphorbia candelabrum Tremaux	Ganga	Tree	Roots	Not specified	Hedberg et al. (1983a)
	Euphorbia grantii Oliv.	Mudulansongo	Tree	Roots	Crushing, then massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011)
	Euphorbia hirta L.	Mziwaziwa	Herb	Roots	Crushing, then massage the affected part. Decoction drunk	Augustino et al. (2011), Chhabra et al. (1990b)
	Euphorbia tirucalli L.	Mnyaa	Shrub	Roots	Crushing, then massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011), Ramathal and Ngassapa (2001)
	Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir.	Mkwambamazi	Shrub	Roots	Infusion drunk	Chhabra et al. (1990b)
	Securinega virosa (Roxb. ex Wind.) Pax & K. Hoffm.	Msokote	Shrub	Roots, fruits	Infusion drunk	Hedberg et al. (1983a)
	Suregada zanzibariensis Baill.	Mdimumwitu	Shrub	Roots, leaves	Pounded, then massage the affected part after a small incision is made and decoction drunk	Augustino et al. (2011), Augustino and Gillah (2005), Chhabra et al. (1990b), Hedberg et al. (1983a)
Fabaceae	Abrus precatorius L.	Lufambo	Herb	Roots	Chewed and extracts swallowed	Chhabra et al. (1990a), Hedberg et al. (1983b)
	Acacia brevispica Harms	Msewa	Tree	Roots	Decoction drunk	Chhabra et al. (1990a)
	Acacia polyacantha Willd. subsp. campylacantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Brenan	Mgunga	Tree	Roots	Infusion drunk, and the same is applied to the bite	Chhabra et al. (1990a), Hedberg et al. (1983a)
	Afzelia quanzensis Welw.	Mkongo	Tree	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1987)
	Brachystegia boehmii Benth.	Muyombo	Tree	Leaves	Pound and massage the affected part. Decoction is drunk	Augustino et al. (2011)
	Brachystegia spiciformis Benth.	Muguluka	Tree	Bark	Pound and massage the affected part. Decoction is drunk	Augustino et al. (2011)
	Pterocarpus angolensis	Mninga	Tree	Roots	Chewed and applied on the bite	Augustino et al. (2011)
	Cassia abbreviata Oliv.	Muzoka	Shrub	Roots	Decoction drunk	Chhabra et al. (1987)
	Cassia alata L.	Mchingu	Shrub	Leaves	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1987)
	Cassia occidentalis L.	Mlingajini	Herb	Leaves	Decoction drunk	Chhabra et al. (1987)
	Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. & Perr.	Mpingo	Tree	Bark, leaves	Fresh leaves are pounded, and juice is drunk	Chhabra et al. (1990a), Ruffo (1991), Salinitro et al. (2017)
	Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight et Arn. subsp. africana Brenan et Brummitt	Mkulagembe	Shrub	Roots, bark, leaves	Leaves are chewed, and the paste is applied to the bite. Roots and bark are chewed or macerated and put on the bite	Chhabra et al. (1990a), Hedberg et al. (1983a), Kacholi (2020), Ruffo (1991)
	Erythrina abyssinica DC.	Mukalalwanhuba	Tree	Roots	Crushing and then massaging the affected part and sap is used as an antidote	Augustino et al. (2011)
	Indigofera arrecta Hochst. A. Rich.	Umusororo	Herb	Whole plant	The plant is dried and ground into a powder, then applied to the affected part	Ramathal and Ngassapa (2001)
	Isoberlinia angolensis (Welw. ex Benth.) Hoyle & Brenan	Muva	Shrub	Bark	Chewed and pasted on the bite	Augustino et al. (2011), Ruffo (1991)
	Lonchocarpus capassa Rolfe	Mfumbili	Tree	Whole plant	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1990a)
	Millettia usaramensis Taub.	Mhafa	Tree	Roots	Decoction drunk	Chhabra et al. (1990a)
	Oormocarpum trachycarpum (Taub.) Harms	Mukondwanhuli	Shrub	Leaves	Crushed, then applied to the bite	Augustino et al. (2011)
	Pericopsis angolensis (Baker) Meeuwen	Muvunga	Tree	Leaves	Not specified	Ruffo (1991)
	Phaseolus radiatus L.	Ebhisanda	Climber	Seeds	Make powder, then mix with honey and rub to the affected area after a small razor incision	Maregesi et al. (2013)
	Piliostigma thonningii (Schum.) Milne-Redh.	Mutindambogo	Tree	Bark	Crushing, then massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011)
Flacourtiaceae	Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr.	Mupugusa	Tree	Roots	Crushing, then massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011)
Gramineae	Brachiaria reptans (L.) Gardner et C.E. Hubbard	Lukoka	Grass	Whole plant	The whole dried plant is burned and the ashes applied to the bite	Chhabra et al. (1990b)
	Pennisetum purpureum Schum.	Urubingo	Herb	Whole plant	The plant is dried and ground into a powder, then applied to the affected part	Ramathal and Ngassapa (2001)
Icacinaceae	Hoslundia opposita Vahl	Mvulavula	Shrub	Leaves	Crushed and applied to the bite	Chhabra et al. (1990b), Hedberg et al. (1983a)
	Ocimum basilicum Linn.	Mvumbasi	Herb	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1990b)
Lamiaceae	Leonotis mollissima Guerke	Kitalelante	Herb	Leaves	Not specified	Chhabra and Mahunnah (1994), Hedberg et al. (1983a)
	Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) Steane & Mabb.	Umukuzanyana	Herb	Bark	Pounded, then massage the affected part	(Ramathal and Ngassapa (2001)
Lauraceae	Cassytha filiformis Linn.	Mlangamia	Herb	Whole plant	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1990b)
Loganiaceae	Strychnos spinosa Lam.	Mtonga	Shrub	Roots	Pounding, then massage the affected part or chew and swallow	Augustino et al. (2011), Chhabra et al. (1990b), Hedberg et al. (1983a)
Malvaceae	Hibiscus micranthus L. f.	Muambe Msase	Shrub	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1990b), Hedberg et al. (1983a)
	Sida rhombifolia L.	Rushuhya	Herb	Roots	Decoction drunk	Chhabra et al. (1990b), Hedberg et al. (1983a)
	Waltheria indica L.	Ikumbo-lyaza	Shrub	Roots	Not specified	Ruffo (1991)
Menispermaceae	Cissampelos mucronata A. Rich.	Msangwi	Climber	Roots	Root scrapings are taken orally and also rubbed into scars at the place of the bite	Chhabra et al. (1990b)
	Cissampelos pareira L. var. orbiculata (DC.) Miq.	Mukuluwanti	Climber	Roots	Infusion drunk	Chhabra et al. (1990b), Hedberg et al. (1983a), Ruffo (1991)
Moraceae	Ficus natalensis Hochst.	Mlumba	Tree	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1990a)
Ochnaceae	Ochna schweinfurthiana F. Hoffm.	Kavulwampako	Shrub	Roots	Not specified	(Ruffo (1991)
Olacaceae	Ximenia caffra Sond.	Mnembwa	Tree	Roots	A decoction is taken orally	Augustino et al. (2011), Maregesi et al. (2013)
Oleaceae	Jasminum fluminense Vell.	Muhafu	Climber	Roots, Leaves	Pounded and compressed in cotton cloth to get the juice which is taken orally	Chhabra et al. (1990a), Maregesi et al. (2013)
	Schrebera trichoclada Welw.	Muputika	Shrub	Bark	Pound and massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011)
Orchidaceae	Ansellia africana Lindl.	Inyazya	Herb	Bark	Not specified	Ruffo (1991)
Passifloraceae	Adenia gummifera (Harv.) Harms	Zokambago	Climber	Roots	Chewed and extracts swallowed	Hedberg et al. (1983b)
Phylanthaceae	Antidesma venosum E. Mey. ex Tul.	Musekela, Mnyembelezu, Enjanemeno	Shrub	Roots	Pound and massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011), Chhabra et al. (1993), Hilonga et al. (2019), Ruffo (1991)
Poaceae	Sporobolus pyramidalis Beauv.	Chinswi	Grass	Roots	Decoction taken orally thrice a day	Maregesi et al. (2013)
Polygalaceae	Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen	Msigi	Shrub	Roots, bark, leaves	Decoction of roots, leaves and stem bark drunk	Chhabra et al. (1991), Hedberg et al. (1983b)
Ranunculaceae	Clematis brachiata Thunb.	Tambariko	Climber	Leaves	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1991)
Rhamnaceae	Ziziphus mucronata Wild.	Kagovole	Tree	Roots	Infusion drunk	Hedberg et al. (1983b), Ruffo (1991)
Rubiaceae	Agathisanthemum bojeri Klotzsch	Mwima	Herb	Leaves	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1991)
	Catunaregam nilotica (Stapf) Tirvengadum	Mtutuma	Shrub	Roots	Infusion drunk	Chhabra et al. (1991), Hedberg et al. (1983b)
	Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirvengadum	Mwachanguku	Shrub	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1991)
	Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovistonantis (Welw.) Verde.	Mvulang’ondo	Shrub	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1991)
	Hymenodictyon parvifolium Oliv.	Muginya	Tree	Roots	Infusion drunk	Chhabra et al. (1991)
	Rothmannia engleriana (K. Schum.) Keay	Mkondokondo	Tree	Roots	Not specified	Ruffo (1991)
	Vangueria infausta Burch. ssp. infausta	Msada	Shrub	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1991), Kacholi (2020)
Rutaceae	Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck	Mlimao	Tree	Leaves	Not specified	Augustino and Gillah (2005), Ruffo (1991)
	Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam.	Mkananga	Shrub	Roots	Infusion drunk	Chhabra et al. (1991)
	Toddaliopsis sansibarensis (Engl.) Engl.	Mndizi	Shrub	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1991)
Sapindaceae	Paullinia pinnata L.	Lugoto	Climber	Leaves	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1991)
Solanaceae	Solanum incanum L.	Nyanyapori	Herb	Roots, fruits, leaves	Dried and pounded and then applied to the bite. Sap and juice from fruits are applied directly to the bite.	Ramathal and Ngassapa (2001), Chhabra et al. (1993), Hedberg et al. (1983b)
Sterculiaceae	Sterculia africana (Lour.) Flori	Muhozya	Tree	Bark	Not specified	Ruffo (1991)
	Sterculia appendiculata K. Schum	Mgude	Tree	Bark	Decoction drunk	Chhabra et al. (1993), Hedberg et al. (1983b)
Thymelaeaceae	Synaptolepis kirkii Oliv.	Mjanungu	Climber	Roots	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1993)
Tiliaceae	Grewia bicolor Juss	Mkele/Mkole Mkoma	Shrub	Roots	Infusion drunk	Chhabra et al. (1993), Hilonga et al. (2019)
	Grewia fallax K. Schum	Mkarati	Shrub	Roots	Crushed roots and wipe on the bite	Chhabra et al. (1993)
	Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq.	Mfungang’ombe	Herb	Leaves	Powdered leaves are tied to the affected site and decoction drunk once a day	Chhabra et al. (1993), Maregesi et al. (2013)
Umbeliferae	Steganotaenia araliacea Hochst.	Msumi	Tree	Roots	Pound and then massage the affected part	Augustino et al. (2011), Chhabra et al. (1993), Hedberg et al. (1983b)
Verbenaceae	Premna chrysoclada (Bojer) Gurke	Mtulanvha	Shrub	Roots, leaves	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1993), Hedberg et al. (1983b)
Vitaceae	Cissus hildebrandtii Gilg.	Mtuha	Herb	Leaves	Not specified	Chhabra et al. (1993)

MoP: mode of preparations; RoA: route of administration.

Figure 3. Growth forms of plants used for the treatment of snakebites.

Figure 4. Plants parts used for preparations of herbal remedies against snakebites.

Figure 5. Modes of preparation (MoP) and Routes of administration (RoA) of snakebite remedies.

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