Green synthesis of Cerium oxide / Moringa oleifera seed extract nano-composite and its molluscicidsal activities against biomophalaria alexanderina

The green synthesis method is one of the most economic and ecofriendly approach for preparation of metal oxide nanoparticles. In the current study, Moringa oleifera seed was used for synthesis of Ce2O3/M. oleifera (Ce2O3/MNCs) nano-composite. The bio-composite was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM and HR-TEM. The FTIR analysis confirmed the phytochemical involvement in bio-composite. Its crystalline and size was well demonstrated through X-ray Diffraction and HR-TEM. The TEM images revealed these particles in circle shape with average size of 30 nm. The present investigation showed that Ce2O3/MNCs was toxic to B. alexandrina snails with LC50 of 314.5 mg/L. The survival and the reproductive rates of the snails were significantly reduced after exposing to ¼ and ½ of LC50 of Ce2O3/MNCs. The present study showed that Ce2O3/MNCs has significant ovicidal and larvicidal activities. Also, the exposure to ½ of LC50 of Ce2O3/MNCs showed alterations in the tegmental architectures of the head-foot region, in addition it caused significant damages in both of the hermaphrodite and digestive glands of B. alexandrina. Conclusively, Ce2O3/MNCs nano-composite could be utilized as a new molluscicidal agent for the snails of schistosomiasis.