Impact of Ferula hermonis Roots Methanol Extract on Genotoxic, Biochemical and Reproductive Aspects of Biomphalaria alexandrina Snails

One of the most significant neglected tropical diseases that have a detrimental effect on economic and public health criteria is Schistosomiasis. Therefore, there is a permanent and urgent need to find alternative means of biological control. Ferula hermonis is a herbaceous plant with various pharmaceutical properties and is known for its endocrine-disrupting effects. The objective of the present study was to investigate the molluscicidal activity of F. hermonis roots methanol extract against Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. The experimental results showed that F. hermonis extract has a molluscicidal activity against adult B. alexandrina snails at LC₅₀ (14.2 mg/l) and LC₉₀ (18.1 mg/l).  Exposure of snails to sublethal concentrations LC₅ (8.3 mg/l) and LC₁₀ (9.8 mg/l) of the extract considerably lowered snail fertility and egg-laying capacity. In addition, results detected an endocrine-disrupting influence where it caused fluctuations in the levels of the three steroid sex hormones (Testosterone, Estradiol (E2), and Estrogen) following acute and chronic exposure of adult B. alexandrina snails to the sublethal doses of the tested extract. Regarding biochemical alterations, glucose and total lipids levels increased significantly, while protein and albumin contents decreased following exposure to sublethal concentrations, compared to the control snails. The sublethal concentrations (LC₅, LC₁₀, and LC₅₀) of F. hermonis roots methanol extract exerted noticeable DNA damage in B. alexandrina snails, whereas LC₁₀ was the most genotoxic concentration with 18.20±0.09% tailed cells and 10.54±0.58 px tail length. F. hermonis roots methanol extract can be considered a promising biocontrol agent against B. alexandrina snails, the intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni in Egypt, via interference with the reproduction processes, and subsequently reducing the population size of snails in endemic areas.