Molluscicidal and Cercariacidal Activities of Balanites Aegyptiaca
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Date
2011-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Studies on molluscicidal activity of plants have drawn increasing attention due to such issues
as environmental preservation, high cost, and concern over emerging of resistance in snails to
synthetic molluscicides. In line with this the present study evaluated the molluscicidal
activity of aqueous extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca seeds and fruits against adult
Biomphalaria pfeifferi and Lymnaea natalensis snails as well as the cercariacidal activity
against Schistosoma mansoni. Snail mortalities were compared between each plant part and
snail species, and LC50 and LC90 values for the plant parts tested were computed. For the
molluscicidal activities of seed, endocarp, mesocarp and whole fruit part, the LC50 values
against B. pfeifferi were 56.32, 77.53, 65.51 and 66.63 ppm, respectively, while the
respective LC90 values were 77.70, 120.04, 89.50 and 97.55 ppm. Similarly, the LC50 values
for the seed, endocarp, mesocarp and whole fruit against L. natalensis were 80.33, 92.61,
83.52 and 87.84 ppm, respectively, while the respective LC90 values were 102.30, 138.21,
115.42 and 127.69 ppm. B. pfeifferi were found to be more susceptible to B. aegyptiaca than
L. natalensis. As regards the cercariacidal activities of the plant, the in vitro mortality of
cercariae exposed to aqueous extract of seeds increased with increasing concentration and
exposure time. Infectivity evaluation test showed that S. mansoni cercariae exposed to 15
ppm of aqueous extract of seeds were incapable of infecting mice. In particular, the mean egg
load of tissue was reduced in mice infected with the cercariae exposed to 5 and 10 ppm
(ANOVA, p<0.05). In conclusion, the aqueous extracts of B. aegyptiaca have reasonable
molluscicidal and cercariacidal activities. Yet, comprehensive laboratory evaluation of this
plant is required before its field use.
Key words: Balanites aegyptiaca, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Lymnaea natalensis, aqueous
extract, molluscicidal, cercariacidal, schistosomiasis, fascioliasis
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Keywords
Balanites aegyptiaca, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Lymnaea natalensis, aqueous extract, molluscicidal, cercariacidal, schistosomiasis, fascioliasis