Molluscicidal spirostanol saponins from agave heteracantha

TLDR: The four spirostanol saponin glycosides isolated from the butanol fraction of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Agave heteracantha exhibited strong molluscicidal activites against Biomphalaria alexandrina and Lymnaea cailliaudi, the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola gigantica in Egypt respectively.

Abstract: Four spirostanol saponin glycosides were isolated from the butanol fraction of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Agave heteracantha (Agavaceae). The structures of these saponins were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analysis and hydrolysis followed by identification of both aglycones as tigogenin and gitogenin as well as the sugar moieties. The four saponins exhibited strong molluscicidal activites against Biomphalaria alexandrina (LC90 = 10, 15, 7 and 9 ppm) and Lymnaea cailliaudi (LC90 = 8, 13, 5 and 6 ppm), the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola gigantica in Egypt respectively.