[Study of the molluscicide activity of different plants on Biomphalaria havanensis, potential intermediary host of schistosomiasis in Cuba].

Various experimental studies were carried out with plants of the Compositae, Verbenaceae, Polygonaceae and Agavaceae families to determine their molluscicidal capacity. Molluscicidal activity on Biomphalaria havanensis was detected in plants of the Agavaceae family. The plants employed in the experiment were Agave fourcroydes and Agave franzosinii. Lethal doses were determined. These were: LD50 = 12.45 and LD90 = 22.88 mL/L, for A. fourcroydes and LD50 = 8.78 and LD90 = 15.91 mL/L, for A. franzosinii. No decrease was observed in the effectiveness of the aquous extracts with the passing of time. Solar radiation did not seem to effect the molluscicidal activity of the plant extracts.