The genus Eleocharis R. Br. comprises about 200 species, occurring in wet environments like swamps, lakes and river margins. In the search for new molluscicides, extracts from Eleocharis acutangula (Roxb.) Schult., Eleocharis interstincta (Vahl) Roem. & Schult., Eleocharis maculosa (Vahl) Roem. & Schult. and Eleocharis sellowiana Kunth were tested for molluscicidal activity (spawns and adult snails) and toxicity (Brine Shrimp Lethality - BSL - bioassay). The hexane extract of Eleocharis acutangula (fresh subterraneous parts) was active in the BSL bioassay (LC50 = 476 mg/mL), while the other extracts showed LC50 >> 10³ mg/mL, suggesting they have low toxicity. The aqueous ethanol extract of Eleocharis sellowiana (fresh subterraneous parts) was active against Biomphalaria glabrata spawns (LC50 = 24.27 mg/mL) but it was not lethal to adult snails. No other plant extract tested in this study showed molluscicidal activity.
Cyperaceae; Eleocharis; molluscicidal activity; ovicidal activity; Biomphalaria glabrata; Artemia salina
