The repellent activity evaluation of the ethanolic extract of the tipi herb against the Bothrops moojeni serpents

Abstract

Abstract The serpent study involves physiological, behavioral and interaction factors with an extremely dynamic and complex environment. The relation of these animals with biodiversity is still quite preliminary, little studied and sustained by popular practices related to traditional medicine, esoteric and mystical currents. Therefore, this study proposed to know about the effect of 80% crude alcoholic extract of Petiveria alliacea L., popularly known as Tipi Herb, and its effects associated with the repellency of the Bothrops moojeni serpent. A complex of boxes was built for the observation of the snake's displacement, carried out for a total period of six days, the first three for defining the exploratory pattern and the other two for testing the alcoholic extract of Tipi, and finally on the sixth day, one cycle with the presence of a live attractant as bait. It was observed that the animal had no inhibition behavior and moved through the complex in a way like what occurs in nature and showed behavior to avoid remaining in the presence of the extract both with the presence of a live attractant or without it, preferring to move in the other compartments. The results show that this proposed tool is valid for the study of displacement of Bothrops moojeni snakes, in the same way that it added values on the importance of cerrado biome biodiversity and on the popular medicine practices of Tipi Herb, since the repellent effect on the snake was significant in the two tests performed.