Enzyme inhibition by molluscicidal agents of Bauhinia variegata and Mimusops elengi in the nervous tissue of Lymnaea acuminata

Objective:To evaluate the effect of enzymatic activity in the nervous tissue of snail Lymnaea acuminata(L.acuminata)by Bauhinia variegata(B.variegata)and Mimusops elengi(M.elengi)and their active molluscicidal components quercetin and saponin.Methods:Treatment of sublethal concentration(40%and 80%of 96-h LC_(50))in vivo of column-purified fraction of B.variegata leaf and M.elengi bark and their molluscicidal agents quercetin and saponin inhibit the acetylcholinesterase(AChE),acid and alkaline phosphatase(ACP and ALP)activities in the nervous tissue of L.acuminata.Results:AChE activity was more inhibited than ACP and ALP in snail exposed to column-purified fraction of M.elengi bark and saponin.Among all the treatments the highest inhibition in AChE activity(27.77%)was noted in snail L.acuminata exposed to 80%of 96-h LC_(50)of saponin at 96-h exposure period.Conclusions:It can be concluded from the present study that inhibition of AChE,ACP and ALP by B.variegata leaf(quercetin)and M.elengi bark(saponin)in snail L.acuminata could be the cause of snail mortality.