Molluscicidal properties of some species of Annona.

In search for plant molluscicides for the vector control of schistosomiasis, ethanolic extracts from different parts of six species of the Annonaceae family were evaluated against adult forms and egg masses of Biomphalaria glabrata. Results from accurate experiments indicate that the majority of analyzed extracts possess properties lethal to Biomphalaria glabrata, some of them with significant LD90 values (< 20 ppm), as showed for Annona crassiflora M: [pulp and seed (LD50 = 13.21), steem (2.34), root bark (3.79)], Annona glabra L. [seed (17.02)], Annona muricata [leaf (8.75)]. Emphasis is held mainly into Annona muricata L. (leaf) and Annona squamosa Veil. (root) for presenting additional toxicity toward snail egg masses.