LAUSR

BACKGROUND Snails of the genus Biomphalaria spp are intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, the main etiological agent of schistosomiasis mansoni, which affects about 236,6 million people in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The World Health Organization recommends the population control of vector snails as one of the strategies to reduce the prevalence and incidence of schistosomiasis. In this study, molluscicidal and antiparasitic activities of plumbagin, a naturally sourced naphthoquinone with a range of biological effects, were evaluated against B. glabrata and cercariae of S. mansoni. RESULTS After 24 h of exposure, plumbagin demonstrated molluscicidal activity at low concentrations against embryos (LC50 of 0.56, 0.93, 0.68, 0.51 and 0.74 μg/mL for the blastula, gastrula, trochophore, veliger and hippo stage, respectively) and adult snails (LC50 of 3.56 μg/mL). There were no changes in exposed snails fecundity or fertility; However, plumbagin was able to increase the frequency of DNA damage and the number of hemocytes, with apoptosis and binucleation being the main hemocyte alterations. In addition, plumbagin showed death of S. mansoni cercariae in the concentration of 1.5 μg/mL in 60 min, while showing moderate toxicity to Artemia salina. CONCLUSION Plumbagin proved to be a promising substance for the control of B. glabrata population, intermediate host of S. mansoni, as well as the cercariae, infective stage for the man (definitive host), while being moderate toxic to A. salina, crustacean widely used in ecotoxicity tests. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.