Effect of allium cepa and allium sativum feeding on glucose, glycogen, protein bands profile and phenol oxidase activity in Biomphalaria alexandrina

ABSTRACT

The effect of two plants, Allium cepa and Allium sativum, on glucose and glycogen, which are the energy fuel of the snails, as well as on phenol oxidase [PO] activity after one, two, three and seven days was studied. Different protein bands were separated from the control and treated snails hemolymph after 24 hours and 1 week using SDS- electrophoresis. The study revealed that glucose and glycogen were significantly decreased after feeding on onion and garlic. Also, phenol oxidase [PO] activity was highly significantly decreased after two and seven days of feeding on garlic, while feeding on onion decreased the activity of the enzyme at all periods. Data obtained from SDS-electrophoresis showed variations in the different protein bands, which reflected the enzymatic change in the snails' tissue. So, the snails' fecundity may be reduced and in turn disturb the life cycle of schistosome parasite