Saponins of yucca aloifolia as molluscicidal agents

ABSTRACT

Due to the high molluscicidal activity of the crude saponin of Yucca aloifolia [Agavaceae] against Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus [LC90 = 35 and 30 ppm, respectively], a phytochemical study of the crude saponin was carried out through determination of both aglycones and sugar moieties. Chromatographic separation of aglycones mixtures gave five steroidal sapogenin. All sapogenins are fully inactive as molluscicidal up to 300 ppm. The structures of these sapogenins have been established by IR, 1HNMR and mass spectra