Preliminary bioactivity investigation of Styrax officinalis fruit extract as potential biopesticide

Styrax officinalis is a deciduous large shrub that grows in many Mediterranean countries. Active ingredients are localized in the fruit pericarp. Primary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins, tannins and triterpenes and absence of alkaloids and flavonoids. No antimicrobial, but strong ichthyotoxic and molluscicidal effects were observed in the saponin-rich extract .Toxicity tests with the snail Cornu aspersum proved to be a potent contact molluscicide. Allowing the snail to creep on leaves and surfaces sprayed with a 1% (w/v) of pericarp extract resulted in severe dehydration and foaming through their membranes, which resulted in their death after 30 min. When the snails were fed lettuce leaves treated with the same extract solution, it did not cause any observable effect. These findings show that S. officinalis is a promising natural source of a potent contact molluscicide with no visible effect on the snail upon ingestion. Key words: Styracaceae, Styrax officinalis, saponins, ichthyotoxic, molluscicidal, antimicrobial.