Data set of the toxic effects of divaricatic acid depside on Biomphalaria glabrata and Schistosoma mansoni cercariae.

In this study, the molluscicidal and antiparasitic activities of divaricatic acid was evaluated, targeting the mollusc Biomphalaria glabrata and cercariae of the helminth Schistosoma mansoni. Divaricatic acid showed high toxicity against both adult snails (5.5 µg/mL) and embryos (20 µg/mL after 6 h of exposure). Similar activity was observed in S. mansoni cercariae after only a short exposure time. The divaricatic acid proved to be a promising substance for the control of the snail B. glabrata, an intermediate host of schistosomiasis, as well as the cercariae of the pathogen.

Radiosensitizer effect of usnic acid on Biomphalaria glabrata embryos.

PURPOSE: Some phytochemicals have shown the potential of being radiomodifiers, especially phenolic compounds, such as lichenic secondary metabolites. To evaluate the phytochemical usnic acid as a radiomodifier, embryonic cells of molluscs have been used due to their ease of collection, high sensitivity to physical and chemical agents, well-known embryology and low cost for analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study aimed to assess the radiosensitizing action of usnic acid on Biomphalaria glabrata embryos. Samples were irradiated with 4 Gy of gamma rays from a 60Co source (dose rate 2.906 Gy/h). An acute toxicity test was performed using B. glabrata embryos in the blastula stage, in order to determine the toxicity of usnic acid and to establish the lethal Concentration for 50% (LC50). Subsequently, the radiomodifing capacity of usnic acid was estimated using assays with B. glabrata embryos. RESULTS: Irradiation increased the number of non-viable embryos compared to unirradiated controls. Additionally, it was observed that embryos exposed to a non-toxic concentration of usnic acid (0.6 µg/mL) before irradiation showed a further enhancement in non-viable embryos when compared with exposure to ionizing radiation alone. CONCLUSION: The results presented here indicate that usnic acid makes cells more sensitive to the damaging effects of radiation.

Laboratory assessment of divaricatic acid against Biomphalaria glabrata and Schistosoma mansoni cercariae.

In this study, the molluscicidal and antiparasitic activities of divaricatic acid was evaluated, targeting the mollusc Biomphalaria glabrata and cercariae of the helminth Schistosoma mansoni. In addition, the environmental toxicity of divaricatic acid was assessed by bioassay using the microcrustacean Artemia salina. Divaricatic acid showed high toxicity against both adult snails (5µg/mL) and embryos (20µg/mL after 6h of exposure). Similar activity was observed in Schistosoma mansoni cercariae after only a short exposure time (10µg/mL after 30min of exposure). The divaricatic acid did not show toxicity in the acute test using Artemia salina at concentrations equal to or below 200µg/mL. The divaricatic acid proved to be a promising substance for the elimination of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, an intermediate host of schistosomiasis, as well as the cercariae of the pathogen, while being non-toxic to the Artemia salina at the same concentrations. This is the first experimental observation of the molluscicidal and cercaricide activity of divaricatic acid.