Molluscicidal activity of Balanites aegyptiaca against Monacha cartusiana.
BACKGROUND
Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (Zygophyllaceae) is a tropical tree that has many folk uses in various countries. The bark extract is used for the control of the fresh water snails that act as intermediary host of Schistosoma.


OBJECTIVE
Study the molluscicidal activity and chemical constituents of seed oil and seed glycosides of B. aegyptiaca against Monacha cartusiana and determine the structure-activity relationship.


METHODS
Two bioassay methods (residual film application and the leaf dipping technique) were used to evaluate the toxicity effect of the seed oil and glycosides, in concentrations of 1.000, 0.500, 0.250 and 0.125%. The seed oil was analysed by GC/MS. Acid hydrolysis and chromatographic separation were used to study the seed saponins.


RESULTS
The bioassay of B. aegyptiaca against the land snail, M. cartusiana, indicated the activity of the seed oil and the high activity of the seed saponins. The seed glycosides gave 30.0, 53.3, 73.0 and 73.3% mortality for concentrations of 0.125, 0.250, 0.500 and 1.00%, respectively. The LC(50) values were 0.335 and 0.256%, respectively. The seed oil was analysed by GC/MS. Acid hydrolysis of the seed saponins gave a mixture of diosgenin, yamogenin and 3,5-spirostadiene.


CONCLUSIONS
To study the structure-activity relationship, a triterpenoidal saponin and a triterpenoidal saponins rich extract (of Zygophyllum coccenum) were proven to be inactive. Thus, the activity is associated with the steroidal, not triterpenoidal saponins. Moreover, a spirostane aglycone without sugar moiety, was found to be inactive and attained the activity by glycosidation.
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
Abd Elaziz M
AE
Dawidar
Mohamed M
MM
Mortada
Hanaa M
HM
Raghib
Mamdouh
M
Abdel-Mogib
D000818:Animals; D032430:Balanites / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008975:Molluscacides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds; D012908:Snails; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D006027:Glycosides; D008975:Molluscacides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins