Evaluation of molluscicidal activities of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids from Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. on snail hosts of Schistosoma japonicum

Three botanical products, including bisulfates of sanguinarine (BSA), bisulfates of chelerythrine (BCHE) and bisulfates of total alkaloids (BTA), were obtained from the fruits of Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. They were evaluated for the molluscicidal activities against snail of Oncomlania hupensis, intermediate host of schistosomiasis. It was shown that the molluscicidal activities of three botanical products were correlated with the presence of benzo[c] phenanthridine alkaloids (sanguinarine and chelerythrine). The three products all exhibited both time-and concentration-dependent toxicity against the snails. The significant LC50 values at 72 h were found to be 0.19 mg/L (BSA), 0.40 mg/L (BTA) and 2.05 mg/L (BCHE), respectively. The results indicated that BTA from M. cordata was a potent molluscicide, since it exhibited high molluscicidal activity and was easy to be produced from the plant with low-cost.