Molluscicidal and larvicidal activities of Capparis spinosa aerial parts against Galba truncatula intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica

Objective: Fascioliasis caused by Fasciola hepatica L. (Fasciolidae), a digenetic trematode, is a parasitic disease infecting many people worldwide. The present study was carried out to evaluate the molluscicidal and larvicidal activities of Capparis spinosa L. (Capparaceae) aerial parts against Galba truncatula Müll. (Lymnaeidae) and Fasciola hepatica larval stages contaminating this snail in Tunisia. Accordingly, ethyl acetate, methanol and methanol-water were used as solvents of extraction. n-hexane, methylene chloride and methanol were used for the fractionation of the active extract. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical tests were conducted on extracts in order to establish a meaningful relationship the most active with molluscicidal and larvicidal activities. Results: ethyl acetate extracts showed potent activities, giving LC50=8.03 mg/L for leaves and LC50=8.79 mg/L for stems. All the fractions of leaf ethyl acetate extracts were active. The highest activity was detected in the methanolic fraction with LC50=3.53 mg/L. Ethyl acetate extracts of leaves, stems and the methanolic fraction of leaf ethyl acetate extract an LC gave potent larvicidal activities with deterioration rates exceeding 30.39% (30.39; 91.52%). Phytochemical tests showed that these activities may be attributed to the presence of sterols/ carotenoids/triterpenoids in ethyl acetate extracts and flavonoids/saponins in the methanolic fraction. Conclusion: The molluscicidal potential of C. spinosa has been proved in the present investigations and can be recommended for control of G. truncatula snails.