Abstract

MEZGHANI-JARRAYA, R; HAMMAMI, H; AYADI, A  and  DAMAK, M. Molluscicidal activity of Hammada scoparia (Pomel) Iljin leaf extracts and the principal alkaloids isolated from them against Galba truncatula. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz [online]. 2009, vol.104, n.7, pp. 1035-1038. ISSN 0074-0276.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762009000700017.

The molluscicidal activity of Hammada scoparia leaf extracts and the principal alkaloids isolated from them (carnegine and N-methylisosalsoline) were tested against the mollusc gastropod, Galba truncatula, the intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica in Tunisia. The results indicated that the molluscicidal activity was correlated with the presence of alkaloids. A significant molluscicidal value, according to the World Health Organization, was found with the methanol extract (LC₅₀ = 28.93 ppm). Further fractionation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation of two principal alkaloids: carnegine and N-methylisosalsoline. These alkaloids are isoquinolines that have not previously been characterised for their molluscicidal activity. The N-methylisosalsoline possesses the highest molluscicidal activity (LC₅₀ = 0.47 μM against G. truncatula).

Keywords : molluscicidal activity; Galba truncatula; Fasciola hepatica; Hammada scoparia; major alkaloids; N-methylisosalsoline.