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

ABSTRACT

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