INVESTIGATION INTO THE CERCARIACIDAL AND MIRACIDIACIDAL PROPERTIES OFENDOD (PHYTOLACCA-DODECANDRA) BERRIES (TYPE-44)

Aqueous extract of ground Eadod(Phytolacca dodecandra) berries (Type 4 4) was investigated for its cercariacidal and miracidiacidal propertie s. Aqueous extract of the berries prevented snails from being infected by miracidia at a concentration of 4 ppm. Assessment of cercariacidal activity of Ended berries indicated that mortality of cercariae expos ed to aqueous extract of Ended berries increased with increase in conc entration of the test material and exposure, time; Viability assessmen t test showed that pre-treatment of the cercariae with 12 ppm of the e xtract completely inhibited infection of mice by cercariae and signifi cantly reduced tissue egg deposition and worm establishment in the mic e (ANOVA, P < 0.05) The potential use of (Phytolacca dodecandra) berri es against schistosome larval stages in fresh water in a schistosomias is control program is discussed.