title: Molluscicidal activity of Solanum elaeagnifolium seeds against Galba truncatula intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica: Identification of β-solamarine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The molluscicidal activity of Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. (Solanaceae) seeds against Galba truncatula Müll. (Lymnaeidae), intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica L. (Fasciolidae), was evaluated.
  
  
  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 β-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, β-solamarine isolated for the first time from this plant and total saponins fraction showed very potent activities on snails, giving respective median lethal concentrations (LC50) of 1.18, 0.49, and 0.94 mg/L. Total alkaloids fraction obtained from the methanolic extract was less active giving an LC50 value of 14.67 mg/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study emphasizes that glycoalkaloids and saponins of Solanum elaeagnifolium are potent molluscicidal agents. Seed methanolic extract, β-solamarine, and total saponins fraction may be used as molluscicides.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Substances , Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax , Sfax , Tunisia and.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Njeh
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Substances , Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax , Sfax , Tunisia and.
authors.forename: Houda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feki
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Substances , Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax , Sfax , Tunisia and.
authors.forename: Imed
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koubaa
authors.affiliation: b Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax , Sfax , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Nejia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hamed
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Substances , Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax , Sfax , Tunisia and.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damak
authors.affiliation: b Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax , Sfax , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayadi
authors.affiliation: b Fungal and Parasitic Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax , Sfax , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hayet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Substances , Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax , Sfax , Tunisia and.
authors.forename: Raoudha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mezghani-Jarraya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008195:Lymnaea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008975:Molluscacides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds; D012908:Snails; D012991:Solanaceous Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032322:Solanum
chemical_list: D008975:Molluscacides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012991:Solanaceous Alkaloids; C026609:beta-solamarine
keywords: Alkaloids; fascioliasis; glycoalkaloids; saponins; β-solamarine