Ethiopian plants with proven and suspected molluscicidal activity: a new approach in plant evaluation

Using available information on the toxicity, phytochemistry, ethnomedical uses and geographic distribution of plants, potentially suitable species are identified for the control of intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis in Ethiopia's lowlands where endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) is not available. Of 46 species with moderate to high snail-killing potency, 35 are indigenous to Ethiopia. They include 12 plant species with molluscicidal levels similar to those of endod, four of which are particularly suitable for snail control because of their low mammalian toxicity. Another 127 species indigenous to Ethiopia belong to genera with proven molluscicidal activity. The model for plant screening used here permits preliminary assessment of the suitability of plant resources in a given region or locality for snail control programs using existing data, without prior testing of local plants, making this approach appropriate for many developing countries.