Molluscicides from some common medicinal plants of eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Many aquatic snails act as intermediate hosts for the larvae of trematodes, Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, which cause the diseases fascioliasis and schistosomiasis. The WHO has tested several thousands of synthetic compounds for the control of the snail host. Although effective, these molluscicides have so far not proved themselves to be entirely satisfactory. With a growing awareness of environmental pollution, efforts are being made to discover molluscicidal products of plant origin. Being products of biosynthesis, these are potentially biodegradable in nature. Several groups of compounds present in various plants have been found to be toxic to target organisms at acceptable doses ranging from <1 to 100 ppm. Common medicinal plants, i.e. Thevetia peruviana, Alstonia scholaris (Family; Apocynaceae), Euphorbia pulcherima and Euphorbia hirta (Family; Euphorbiaceae), have potent molluscicidal activity against freshwater snails. The toxicological actions of Thevetia peruviana may be due to the presence of apigenin-5-methyl ether (flavonoid) and triterpenoid glycosides, while a number of alkaloids (pseudo-akuammigine in addition to betulin, ursolic acid and beta-sitosterol), steroids and triterpenoids are present in Alstonia scholaris and the diterpenoids, pulcherrol, beta-sitosterol, hentriacontane, ellagic acid and beta-amyrin are present in Euphorbia hirta and in Euphorbia pulcherima. Although, at present very little literature is available on the control of vector snails through plant origin pesticides, an attempt has been made in this review to assemble all the known information on molluscicidal properties of common medicinal plants of eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, which might be useful for the control of harmful snails.

Is a combination of different natural substances suitable for slug (Arion spp.) control?

“…In recent times, the use of environmentally acceptable substances for pest control in agriculture has gained unprecedented impetus all over the world (Radwan & El-Zemity, 2007;Rojht et al, 2010;Singh et al, 2010). Different natural substances are promoted due to their wide range of ideal properties, such as high results have shown that the largest share of mass was lost by those slugs which were treated with hydrated lime individually or in combination with other substances.…”

“…Nonetheless, the use of hydrated lime could be suitable for private gardens as well as for large crop growing areas. target toxicity, low mammalian toxicity, low cost, and easy bio-degradability (Marston & Hostettmann, 1985;Rojht et al, 2010;Singh et al, 2010). In our research we studied both contact efficacy and the so-called barrier efficacy of different environmentally acceptable substances (hydrated lime, wood ash, sawdust, diatomaceous earth) on slugs.…”

Toxic Effect of Aqueous Extract of Garlic on Protein Content in Fish Channa Punctatus

“…A decrease in the protein content mg/gm for both 10 ppm and 15 ppm concentration is due to garlic toxicity and exposure time(Table & Fig 1,2). The decrease in protein content mg/gm has been reported in Channa punctatus after exposure to chlorphyrifos 8,12 and in Clarias bactachus after exposure to Sevin 7…”

“…To address this issue, the use of synthetic pescicides has been employed commonly in many aquaculture farms. A large number of compounds of various classes that, have insecticidal, piscicidal and molluscicidal properties have been observed by Singh 12 . A number of compounds like tannins, alkaloids, alkyl phenols, terpenoids, saponins etc.…”

“…A number of compounds like tannins, alkaloids, alkyl phenols, terpenoids, saponins etc. which are found in several plants of different families with piscicidal activities are used to control of fish 11,12,13 . Due to their long term persistence in the aquatic systems, it gets accumulated in the fish body.…”