Hietanen, E., 1996. Toxicity Testing of Endod, a Natural Plant Extract, as a Prerequisite for its Safe Use as a Molluscicide, Turku University Hospital

Reprinted from "Zebra Mussels and Other Aquatic Nuisance Species." Ed. by Frank D'itri, Ann Arbor Press, 1996.

Toxicity Testing of Endod, a Natural Plant Extract, as a Prerequisite for its Safe Use as a Molluscicide

INTRODUCTION
Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a widely spread parasitic disease in Zambia and in other parts of Africa, the Middle and Far East, and South America. It infects approximately 300 million persons (WHO, 1980; Doumenge et al., 1987). As water contact is the means of transmission especially women and children are at risk and mostly infected. Schistosomiasis disease leads to kidney, urinary tract, liver manifestations giving rise to malnutrition, liver and kidney diseases, and cancer. Traditionally, the incidence of this disease has been low along waterways where laundry has been washed with berries of the Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) plant. This has led to scientific investigations on the use of the extract of Endod berries as a molluscicide to prevent schistosomiasis transmission via the snail host (Lemma, 1990). Later Lemma et al., (1991) reported that Endod extract is an effective molluscicide also against zebra mussels at very low concentrations. However, the obstacle to its wider use has been the lack of sufficient toxicological data on its safety.

Although the efficacy of the Endod powder is unquestionable as a molluscicide (Lugt, 1986), its toxicological safety to the environment and human beings has not been proven. Passing toxicological tests will facilitate the implementation of Endod in bilharzia prevention. Recently, the acute toxicity of extract from the Ethiopian variety of Endod was tested both in aquatic species and in rodents (Lambert et al.,1991). The acute toxicity to aquatic species was rather high while the rodent toxicity was low.

We have conducted a subchronic (90-day) toxicity study according to OECD guidelines in rats using a Zambian variety of Phytolacca dodecandra. The main results of this study are reported here.

Entire Paper
Contact: E. Hietanen, Department of clinical Physiology, Turku University Hospital, FIN-20520 Turku, FINLAND
Keywords: Basic_biology, Chemical_control, Ecological_interactions, Environmental_impacts
Product Type: Research, Impact
User Type: Industrial and Municipal