Molluscicidal Saponins from the Fruit Pulp of Dracaena mannii

Abstract

Three spirostanol saponins, pennogenin triglycoside and its derivatives, isolated from the methanolic extract of the fruit pulp of Dracaena mannii Baker, gave significant molluscicidal activity when tested against 5 snail vectors. The most active isolate DM-1 β p-0 [(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 2), α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 3)) -β-D-glucopyranosyl] - 17 α-hydro-spirost-5-ene) gave an LC₅₀ value of 2.95 ppm (Bulinus globosus), 4.36 ppm (B. forskalii) and 3.63 (Lymnaea natalensis).