Investigation of the influence of euphorbia royleana and jatropha curcas extracts on nucleic acids, hormonal activity and fecundity of biomphalaria alexandrina snails

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of sublethal doses of the lyophilized latex of Euphorbia royleana and the acetonitrile extract of Jatropha curcas on some physiological parameters in Biomphalaria alexandrina, intermediate host snails of schistosomiasis. The effects of sublethal concentrations [LC[10] and LC[25]] of both plant extracts on nucleic acids [DNA and RNA] were investigated. Also, their influence on the levels of some hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine was evaluated. Furthermore, the effects of these sublethal concentrations [LC[10] and LC[25]] of both plant extracts, on the production of egg masses, their hatchability and growth rate of the newly hatched snails were studied. It was observed that both plant-derived molluscicides induced significant alteration in all measured parameters. It was shown that the nucleic acids contents were significantly affected. It was also indicated that the epinephrine and norepinephrine of treated snails were significantly increased. On the other hand, the level of dopamine was decreased significantly. It was also shown that there was a significant suppressive effect not only on the number of egg masses but also on the hatchability of these egg masses and on the growth rate of the newly hatched snails, which could be attributed to the physiological disturbances induced by both plant extracts

Investigation of Induced biochemical and histopathological parameters of acetonitril extract of Jatropha carcus in albino rats

Toxicological and histopathological investigations were carried on the acetonitrile extract from J. Carcus in comparison with praziquantel, the known anti-schistosomal drug. On a constant weight dose bases [single dose of 50 mg/kg body weight injected orally to albino rats], the acetonitrile extract from J. carcus showed mild toxicological parameters, biochemical parameters as well as histopathological profile in comparison with the control. However, these side effects were nonsignificant compared with the severe side effects caused by praziquantel

Molluscicidal and in-vitro Schistosomicidal activities of the latex and some extracts of some plants belonging to Euphorbiacea

The molluscicidal activities of the natural and lyophilized latex extracts of Euphorbia royleana and E. Mouritanica as well as acetonitrile and chloroform extracts of Jatropha carcus were investigated against Biomphalaria alexandrina the intermediate hosts for S. Mansoni. The lyophilized latex extract of E. royleana showed the highest toxicity against the snails with LC90 value of 11 ppm. While, the natural latex extract of E. mouritanica showed the lowest toxicity against the snails with LC90 value of 60 ppm. The acetonitrile extract of Jatropha carcus gave a high toxicity against the snails with LC90 value of 6 ppm and the chloroform extract gave a low toxicity with LC90 value of 55 ppm. The in vitro schistosomicidal activities of lyophilized latex extract of E. Royleana and the acetonitrile extract of J. Carcus were studied against S. Mansoni adults showed that the lyophilized latex extract of E. Royleana gave 100% mortality after exposure to 30 ppm for 4 consecutive days and 66.7% mortality after exposure to 10 ppm for 5 consecutive days. The acetonitrile extract of J. carcus gave 91.7% mortality after exposure to 100 ppm for 4 consecutive days and 58.3% mortality after exposure to 50 ppm for 5 consecutive days