Pheophorbide a Potential Source of Plant Molluscicide to Combat Against Neglected Tropical Disease Fasciolosis

To evaluate the molluscicidal activity of photodynamic product pheophorbide against Lymnaea acuminata. Fresh water snail Lymnaea acuminata is the vector of liver flukes Fasciola gigantica, which cause endemic fasciolosis in cattle population as well as in human beings. Ten snails Lymnaea acuminata were placed in a glass aquarium containing 3 L of dechlorinated tap water. These snails were treated with different concentrations of pheophorbide. Pheophorbide is derivative of chlorophyll was extracted from fresh leaves of spinach and kept for 2 h in 100% ethanol at 55EC. Photodynamic product pheophorbide was concentration and time dependent toxic against snail Lymnaea acuminata. Toxicity of extracted pheophorbide when L. acuminata kept in sunlight (summer 96 h LC 50 65.89 mg LG 1 , winter 96 h 263.24 LC 50 mg LG 1 ) was less than pure pheophorbide (summer 96 h LC 50 13.39 mg LG 1 , winter 96 h 26.02 LC 50 mg LG 1 ). Pure pheophorbide was more toxic in summer sunlight in comparison with extracted pheophorbide. The production of chlorophyll derived pheophorbide is economical and unproblematic to environment and as a result a promising approach to control water/food-borne disease in developing countries.