Effects of Helleborus thibetanus extract, a novel plant-derived molluscicide on Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum
- 1National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Parasitic Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory on Parasite and Vector Control Technology, Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
Abstract
The snail, Oncomelania hupensis, is the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum. Thus, snail control is one of the most rapid and effective strategies for disrupting schistosomiasis transmission. In this study, 125 botanical extracts were screened for molluscicidal activity, leading to the selection of the extract of Helleborus thibetanus (EHT) for further evaluation. EHT exhibited strong molluscicidal activity against O. hupensis (LC50 value of 12.54 mg/L and LD50 value of 1.400 g/m2). In field trials, an EHT dose of 10 g/m2 killed 85.19% of the snails. Histopathological evaluation revealed that EHT caused comprehensive damage to the cephalopodium, gill, salivary gland, stomach, and hepatopancreas. Importantly, EHT was also generally safe for non-target organisms, such as Danio rerio, Daphnia magna, Pelophylax nigromaculatus, Cipangopaludina chinensis, and Neocaridina denticulata at the test concentration. These results suggest the potential of EHT as an effective and eco-friendly molluscicide for the control of O. hupensis.
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BibTeX
@article{yu2026effects,
title = {{Effects of Helleborus thibetanus extract, a novel plant-derived molluscicide on Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum}},
author = {Haonan Yu and Guoli Qu and Liping Wang and Jiankun Jin and Yuntian Xing},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0354674},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0354674},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of Helleborus thibetanus extract, a novel plant-derived molluscicide on Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum
AU - Haonan Yu
AU - Guoli Qu
AU - Liping Wang
AU - Jiankun Jin
AU - Yuntian Xing
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/11
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0354674
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0354674
AB - The snail, Oncomelania hupensis, is the only intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum. Thus, snail control is one of the most rapid and effective strategies for disrupting schistosomiasis transmission. In this study, 125 botanical extracts were screened for molluscicidal activity, leading to the selection of the extract of Helleborus thibetanus (EHT) for further evaluation. EHT exhibited strong molluscicidal activity against O. hupensis (LC50 value of 12.54 mg/L and LD50 value of 1.400 g/m2). In field trials, an EHT dose of 10 g/m2 killed 85.19% of the snails. Histopathological evaluation revealed that EHT caused comprehensive damage to the cephalopodium, gill, salivary gland, stomach, and hepatopancreas. Importantly, EHT was also generally safe for non-target organisms, such as Danio rerio, Daphnia magna, Pelophylax nigromaculatus, Cipangopaludina chinensis, and Neocaridina denticulata at the test concentration. These results suggest the potential of EHT as an effective and eco-friendly molluscicide for the control of O. hupensis.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -