Molluscicidal and antischistosomal activities of Zingiber officinale.

Experiments were conducted to study the major constituents of Zingiber officinale responsible for its molluscicidal activity and the effect of the active component on different stages of Schistosoma mansoni. Gingerol and shogaol exhibited potent molluscicidal activity on Biomphalaria glabrata. Gingerol (5.0 ppm) completely abolished the infectivity of Schistosoma mansoni miracidia and cercariae in B. glabrata and mice, respectively, indicating that the molluscicide is capable of interrupting schistosome transmission at a concentration lower than its molluscicidal concentrations.