Fitoterapia 73 Ž2002.

428᎐430

Short report

Molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria

glabrata of Brazilian Cerrado medicinal
plants
J.C.B. Bezerraa , I.A. Silvaa , H.D. Ferreirab, P.H. Ferri c ,
S.C. Santos c,U
a
´ Publica,
Setor de Parasitologia-Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saude ´ ˆ GO, Brazil
Goiania,
b
ˆ
Departamento de Biologia Geral-Instituto de Ciencias ´
Biologicas, ˆ GO, Brazil
Goiania,
c
´ de Bioati¨ idade Molecular -Instituto de Quımica,
Laboratorio ´ Uni¨ ersidade Federal de Goias,
´
ˆ GO, Brazil
CP 131, 74001-970, Goiania,

Received 4 February 2002; accepted 20 May 2002

Abstract

Alcoholic extracts of six Brazilian Cerrado medicinal plants were evaluated for their
molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata, intermediate host of schistosomiasis.
Stryphnodendron polyphyllum bark extract, rich in condensed tannins, was the most promis-
ing as molluscicide. 䊚 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All right reserved.

Keywords: Stryphnodendron adstringens; S. polyphyllum; Caryocar brasiliensis; Eugenia dysenterica; An-

nona crassiflora; Dimorphandra mollis; Molluscicidal activity

Plant material. Stryphnodendron adstringens ŽMart.. Coville ŽMimosoideae., Stryph-

nodendron polyphyllum Mart. ŽMimosoideae., Dimorphandra mollis Bth.
ŽMimosoideae., Caryocar brasiliensis Camb. ŽCaryocaraceae., Eugenia dysenterica
DC. ŽMyrtaceae. and Annona crassiflora Mart. ŽAnnonaceae. were collected in

U
Corresponding author. Tel.: q55-21-62-521-1008; fax: q55-21-62-521-1167.
E-mail address: suzana@quimica.ufg.br ŽS.C. Santos..

0367-326Xr02r$ - see front matter 䊚 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 3 6 7 - 3 2 6 X Ž 0 2 . 0 0 1 2 1 - 1
 J.C.B. Bezerra et al. r Fitoterapia 73 (2002) 428᎐430 429

´ state and identified by Prof. Heleno D. Ferreira. Vouchers

May 1997 in Goias
´
specimens were deposited at the Herbarium of the Universidade Federal de Goias
ŽUFG..

Uses in traditional medicine. S. adstringens, S. polyphyllum and D. mollis are used

for the treatment of diarrhoea, gynaecological problems and for healing wounds
w1x. The stem bark extract of S. adstringens showed cicatrizant properties w2,3x,
anti-inflammatory activity w4x and gastric anti-ulcerogenic effects w5x. E. dysenterica
leaves are used against dysentery and fruits as laxative w1x, essential oil from leaves
presented anti-fungal activity w6x. Oil from fruits of C. brasiliensis is used against
influenza and lung diseases w1,7x, leaves are used as infusion for liver disorders w7x.
A. crassiflora seeds are used for snake bites w8x, and showed inhibition of drug-in-
duced contractions w9x, leaves extract presented anti-fungal activity w10x.

Previously isolated classes of constituents. S. adstringens, flavan-3-ols, prodelphini-

dins and prorobinetinidins w11,12x. S. polyphyllum no report. D. mollis, rutin from
the fruits w13x. E. dysenterica, mono and sesquiterpenes in essential oil w6x. C.
brasiliensis, fatty acids and carotenoids from the fruits w14x. A. crassiflora, poly-
ketides from seeds w15x and flavonoids from leaves w16x.

Tested material. Ethanol extracts.

Studied activity. Molluscicidal activity against snails Biomphalaria glabrata ŽSay. .

Crude extracts were dissolved in 250 ml of dechlorinated tap water at an initial
concentration of 100 ppm. Ten snails were submerged in the solution for 24 h and
the surviving snails were removed to a flask containing 250 ml of dechlorinated tap
water, fed with lettuce, and observed for four days. The most active extracts were
tested also at 50 and 20 ppm. Controls without extracts were run in parallel.

Used animals. B. glabrata Žstrain BH. maintained in polyethylene boxes with 10 l

of dechlorinated tap water at 28 " 2 ⬚C and fed with lettuce. Adult snails with a
shell diameter between 14 and 18 mm were used in the assays.

Results and conclusions. Reported in Table 1. Extracts of S. adstringens, S.

polyphyllum, C. brasiliensis and E. dysenterica Žleaves. were highly toxic to B.
glabrata at 100 ppm. When the concentrations were reduced to 50 ppm, only S.
adstringens and S. polyphyllum continued showing high molluscicidal activity. These
plants were tested at 20 ppm and S. polyphyllum barks extract was the most active
with 40% of mortality at this concentration. The bark of S. polyphyllum is rich in
condensed tannin, prodelphinidin type, which are responsible for the molluscicidal
activity w17x. According to the World Health Organization guidelines w18x, this
extract can become a plant-derived molluscicide, with potential use for the control
of schistosomiasis.
430 J.C.B. Bezerra et al. r Fitoterapia 73 (2002) 428᎐430

Table 1
Activity of plant extracts against Biomphalaria glabrataa

Plant Part used Yield Ž%. Constituents b Mortality Ž%. after 48 h

100 ppm 50 ppm 20 ppm

S. adstringens Leaves 28.75 CT, F 100 90 10

Barks 26.15 CT 100 60 0
S. polyphyllum Leaves 30.05 CT, F 100 70 10
Barks 37.55 CT 100 70 40
D. mollis Leaves 23.60 F 0 ᎐ ᎐
Barks 15.15 C, CT, F 10 ᎐ ᎐
C. brasiliensis Leaves 64.94 CT, HT, F, T 90 20 ᎐
Barks 10.36 CT, HTU , F 90 10 ᎐
E. dysenterica Leaves 34.86 CT, F 100 10 ᎐
Barks 9.30 C, PA, CTU 0 ᎐ ᎐
A. crassiflora Leaves 33.20 F, CTU 0 ᎐ ᎐
a
Results are the mean of two replications.
b
C, coumarins; F, flavonoids; T, terpenoids; PA, phenolics acids; CT, condensed tannins; HT,
hydrolysable tannins. U Trace.

Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to CNPqrPCOP ŽGrant No. 520769r99-6., PADCT

III ŽGrant No. 620166r97-5. and Fundaçao ˜ de Apoio `a Pesquisa ᎏ
FUNAPErUFG.

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