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The use of poisoned weapons has been part and parcel of man’s existence since time immemorial in virtually all parts of the world. Poisoned weapons have been used as a means of obtaining food through hunting game, protecting self from enemies and wild animals, and tribal warfare. Even today, the use of poisoned weapons such as arrows for similar purposes continues, especially in Africa, albeit less frequently [3]. Arrow and ordeal poisons are still considered to be conventional natural sources for future drug discovery [37]. Some of the earliest evidence of the use of arrow poisons is from around 218–2050 BCE in the tombs of ancient Egypt. One arrow had a mainly water‐soluble poison, whose aqueous extract was cardioactive in mice [3].

The bow and arrow is the weapon most used by local tribesmen. Generally, forest dwellers have small bows and mostly wooden‐tipped arrows; savannah people have large bows and arrows with iron tips and mostly complicated barbs. The barbs are wrapped behind with plant material for better adhesion of the poison. Another efficient weapon used in many parts of Africa, particularly Central Africa, is the crossbow [3].