Pak J Biol Sci. 2013 Mar 1;16(5):201-7.
Abstract
Scorpion
bite is considered as one of the common and dangerous phenomenon
throughout the world. The clinical manifestations include pulmonary
edema, myocardial damage, intracerebral haemorrhage, brachial
plexopathy, renal failure etc. which sometimes leads to mortality. The
common antivenin therapy includes anti-scorpion venom serum or prazosin.
In the vast rural areas of the third world countries phytotherapy is
considered as an alternative system of medicine and scorpion sting is
treated with the help of medicinal botanicals. As the safety and
efficacy are considered as important aspects of anti venin therapy,
conventional treatment can be supported by the herbal remedy. The
present review compiles a number of medicinal plants pharmacologically
evaluated in vitro and/or in vivo for scorpion antivenin properties.
Considering the aspects like cost effectiveness, availability, lesser
side effects and development of drug resistance, plant based anti venin
therapy may be considered as a possible remedy against scorpion
envenomation.
