title: Molluscicidal and larvicidal activities and essential oil composition of Cymbopogon winterianus.
abstract: CONTEXT. Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor (Poaceae), known as citronella grass, is an aromatic herbaceous plant and the essential oil extracted from this grass is used in cosmetics, perfumes, hygiene and cleanliness products worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the composition and molluscicidal and larvicidal activities of the essential oil of C. winterianus cultivated in North Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation, analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry and then its molluscicidal and larvicidal activities against snails (Biomphalaria glabrata) and hatched larvae of Artemia salina, respectively, were evaluated at concentrations from 10 to 1000 mg/L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main constituents of oil were citronellal (26.5%), geraniol (16.2%), elemol (14.5%) and citronellol (7.3%). The molluscicidal test revealed significant lethal concentration (LC) values (LC90=97.0 mg/L, LC50=54.0 mg/L and LC20=22.0 mg/L), indicating the presence of molluscicidal compounds in the oil. In addition, the oil showed moderate larvicidal activity (LC50=181.0 mg/L) against the larvae of A. salina, which could justify its use in the aquatic environment without affecting other living organisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the oil of C. winterianus could be an effective alternative to control schistosomiasis, with an average margin of safety to other living organisms that coexist with snails.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, MA, Brazil. klinger.antonio@gmail.com
authors.forename: Klinger Antonio da F
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Clarice N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Flavia Maria M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.forename: Denise F C
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Victor E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Mouchrek Filho
authors.forename: Eloisa Helena A
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Jose Guilherme S
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Maia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000187:drug effects*; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry; D057168:Distillation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008975:Molluscacides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008975:Molluscacides; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils