Biocontrol potential of Arabidopsis thaliana against Biomphalaria glabrata, the intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni, focusing on biological, physiological, histopathological, and genotoxic impacts

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Beit Elmal N.Y.; Abdel Ghaffar F.A.; Hamdi S.A.H.; Ibrahim A.M.; Fol M.F.; Mostafa N.A.
Journal: Parasite Epidemiology and Control
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Publication Date: August 2025
Volume / Issue: Volume 30
Article No.: e00428
ISSN: 24056731
DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2025.e00428
Scopus: View on Scopus
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
Beit Elmal N.Y., Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Albida, Libya; Abdel Ghaffar F.A., Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; Hamdi S.A.H., Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; Ibrahim A.M., Medical Malacology, Invertebrates, Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Fol M.F., Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; Mostafa N.A., Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
Abstract
Controlling Biomphalaria species with plant products is crucial in the treatment of schistosomiasis since it is eco-friendly and generally less harmful to non-target organisms. The goal of this study was to determine the molluscicidal activity of an aqueous extract of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves against Biomphalaria glabrata. A preliminary phytochemical screening test revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, anthraquinones, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and carbohydrates. Following exposure to sub-lethal concentrations (LC10 75.62 mg/L and LC25 90.52 mg/L) of aqueous extract of A. thaliana, a reduction in survival, reproductive, and fecundity rates of B. glabrata were detected, as well as a substantial decrease in GSH, CAT, and SOD, while increasing MDA and NO levels. In addition, there was an increase in liver and renal functions as well as lipid profiles, compared to the control group. Histopathological examination of the digestive gland of treated B. glabrata showed a shrinkage of the tubules and an increase in the inter-tubular spaces as well as degeneration in the oocytes and spermatocytes of the hermaphrodite glands with a loss of connective tissues between the acini. Also, the comet assay revealed a genotoxic effect of aqueous extract of A. thaliana on B. glabrata, with a significant increase in the tail moment, tail length, and DNA percentage reflecting DNA damage compared to the control group. Conclusively, Arabidopsis thaliana aqueous extract acts as a natural molluscicidal agent against Biomphalaria glabrata. © 2024
Keywords
Arabidopsis thaliana; Biochemical; Biomphalaria glabrata; Genotoxic; Histopathology; alkaloid; anthraquinone; Arabidopsis thaliana extract; carbohydrate; catalase; flavonoid; glutathione; malonaldehyde; molluscacide; nitric oxide; plant extract; saponin; steroid; superoxide dismutase; tannin derivative; terpenoid; unclassified drug; adult; aqueous solution; Article; biological pest control; cell degeneration; comparative study; connective tissue; controlled study; DNA damage; exocrine gland; female; fertility; genotoxicity; hermaphrodite gland; intermediate host; kidney function; LC10; LC25; lipid fingerprinting; liver function; male; molluscicidal activity; nonhuman; oocyte; Pacini corpuscle; percentage of tail DNA; phytochemistry; plant leaf; reproductive behavior; Schistosoma mansoni; spermatocyte; sublethal concentration; survival rate; tail length (animal); tail moment
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 1
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