Context: The persistence of fascioliasis in many developing countries urges the search for simple, cheap, and effective substances. In this view, plants provide interesting molluscicidal activities thanks to the secondary metabolites they produce. The genus Solanum is known for its potent effect on vector snails. Materials and methods: Solanum elaeagnifolium seeds were powdered and successively extracted using n-hexane, methylene chloride, acetone, and methanol, for 20 h each. After filtration, solvents were evaporated. An acid-base treatment was conducted on seed methanolic extract to isolate total alkaloids and b-solamarine. Total saponins fraction was obtained after successive macerations and evaporations. The molluscicidal activity was evaluated by subjecting snails, in groups of 10, for 48 h to 500 mL of extracts, fractions, and pure product aqueous solutions, each containing amounts, ranging from 1 to 50 mg of plant material in 5 mg increments. Results: The methanolic extract of seeds, b-solamarine isolated for the first time from this plant and total saponins fraction showed very potent activities on snails, giving respective median lethal concentrations (LC 50 ) of 1.18, 0.49, and 0.94 mg/L. Total alkaloids fraction obtained from the methanolic extract was less active giving an LC 50 value of 14.67 mg/L. Discussion and conclusion: This study emphasizes that glycoalkaloids and saponins of Solanum elaeagnifolium are potent molluscicidal agents. Seed methanolic extract, b-solamarine, and total saponins fraction may be used as molluscicides.

The aim of this study was to screen various solvent extracts of seeds of Solanum elaeagnifolium to display the phytochemical composition, the total phenolic content, the total flavonoid content and the antioxidant capacity in order to find possible sources for future novel antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical formulations. Various extracts of seeds of Solanum elaeagnifolium were obtained by maceration. The total phenolic content of the different extracts was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the total flavonoid content was quantified using a method based on the formation of a flavonoid–aluminium complex .The antioxidant activity was essayed through some in vitro models such as the antioxidant capacity by phosphomolybdenum method, radical scavenging activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay and reducing power assay. The acetone extract showed the highest total phenolics (580.99 ± 20.56 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of extract), and the highest total flavonoids (207.61 ± 2.62 mg quercetin equivalents/g of extract). This extract showed an antioxidant activity higher than that of α-tocopherol. These results suggest the potential of Solanum elaeagnifolium against free-radical-associated oxidative damage.