BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF SAPONINS EXTRACTED FROM CUCURBITA FOETIDISSMA PLANT ON BIOMPHALARIA SNAILS

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Abstract

The effect of saponins obtained from root and fruit of Cucurbita foetidissma plant (commonly called buffalo ground) at their LC50 on triglycerides, cholesterol, urea, uric acid and creatinine levels in Biomphalaria alexandrina and Biomp < /em>halaria glabrata snails was studied. Moreover, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) enzymes were determined in obth Biomp < /em>halaria snails species treated with the LC50 of saponins obtained from the fruit and root of "buffalo ground" plant. It was observed that there is a highly significant increase in the levels of triglycerides
in the levels and cholesterol in B. alexandrina snails treated with saponin extracted from the root of the plant and in cholesterol content only in B. alexandrina snails treated with saponin extracted from the fruit of the plant. Uric acid level increased in B. alexandrina snails treated with saponins obtained from the root and fruit of the plant. Saponin obtained from the fruit exhibited a slight increase in the level of urea in treated B. glabrata. Creatinine level was unchanged in all treated groups. It is hoped that these results might help in biological control of Schistosma transmitting snails.

Keywords