Comparative Study of the Molluscicidal Activity of Some Plant Extracts on the Snail Vector of Schistosoma mansoni, Biomphalaria alexandrina

Schistosomiasis is considered as one of the most important trematode disease of man. The most important goal of the present study is to use the natural plants as cheaper and available sources for snail control. The present investigation concerned with the evaluation of toxicological, biological and physiological effects of water suspension, cold water and boiled water extracts of Agave filifera whole plant, Ammi majus flowers and leaves and Canna indica flowers and leaves comparing with the effect of different sulphate compounds. The present work revealed that, copper sulphate as well as the water suspension of Ammi majus flowers and leaves disclosed the most potent effect on the cumulative mortality after 6 weeks exposure periods. Also, egg laying capacity and egg hatchability of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails were affected with the exposure to CuSO4 and water suspension of Ammi majus flowers. The sublethal doses (LC10) of copper sulphate and water suspension of the tested plants reduced the total protein and total lipid contents of the hemolymph of B. alexandrina snails. The activity of transaminases enzymes as well as acetylcholinesterase had been affected by the exposure to the sublethal doses of copper sulphate and the water suspension of the tested plants. Also, histopathological changes were recorded in hermaphrodite gland of B. alexandrina snails post 6 weeks of exposure.