EVALUATION OF THE MOLLUSCICIDAL ACTIVITIES OF ATRIPLEX STYLOSA AND AGAVE FEROX

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

The molluscicidal activities of aqueous suspension of Atriplex stylosa (Family Chenopodiaceae) and Agave ferox (Family Agavaceae were evaluated against Biomphalaria alexandrina, Bulinus truncates and Lymnaea cailliaudi snails, the intermediate hosts of Schistosomiasis and Fascioliasis (LC90 for A. stylosa were 180, 167 and 162 ppm while for A. ferox were 192, 185 and 179 ppm) within 24 hours against the three snails respectively. Also, screening of some different extracts of the two plants against B. alexandrina snails revealed that the methanol extracts of both plants were most active (LC90 was 80 ppm for A. stylosa and 92 ppm for A. ferox) within 24 hours. On the other hand, it was found that both plants are toxic against Schistosoma mansoni cercariae.
Studying the effect of some simulated field conditions of the aqueous suspension of the two plants such as (different water temperatures, sun radiation, mud particles, different exposure times and pH values) proved that the activities of both plants are nearly stable under these conditions, therefore, it is recommended to evaluate these plants in the field as molluscicides and to isolate their active constituents.