Toxicity of Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Kernel Extract on Pomacea canaliculata (Ampullariidae)

A number of tropical plant species have been recognised as molluscicidal plants, and Barringtonia racemosa (L.) is one of these. The toxicity effects of B. racemosa seed kernel extracts on Pomacea canaliculata were evaluated. The lethal concentration at 50% [LC50 (lower-upper limits)] values, in ppm/48 hours, were 70.71 (41.33-120.97), 94.39 (62.48-142.59), 186.84 (129.21-270.17), and 672.72 (366.57-1234.53) for the extracts withdrawn using dichloromethane (DCM), methanol (MeOH), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), heptane (hp) solvents, respectively at 95% confidence interval (C. I.). All analyses were conducted using Trimmed Spearman-Karber (TSK) program version 1.5. It is assumed that the observed biological effects of the extracts may be due to the saponins and flavonoids present in the seed. The dichloromethanic and methanolic extracts contain saponin and flavonoid substances. Therefore these extracts have shown more potent molluscicidal activity towards the tested organism compared to the remaining extracts. This observed biological activity suggests a promising role for B. racemosa in the control of P. canaliculata.