Photomediated Larvicidal Activity of Pheophorbide a against Cercaria Larvae of Fasciola gigantica

Fasciolosis is a parasitic disease caused by Fasciola gigantica. The freshwater snail Lymnaea acuminata is the intermediate host of F. gigantica which cause endemic fasciolosis in the northern part of India. To investigate larvicidal activity of pure and laboratory extracted pheophorbide a (Pa) against cercaria larvae of F. gigantica, data were analyzed in different spectra of visible light, sunlight, and laboratory conditions. Photostimulation of chlorophyll derivative pheophorbide a (Pa) caused time and concentration dependent larvicidal activity against cercaria larvae of F. gigantica. Larvicidal activity of pure Pa under 650 nm and 400–650 nm (8 h LC(50) 0.006 mg/10 mL) was more pronounced than extracted Pa under same irradiations (650 nm LC(50) 0.12 mg/10 mL, 400–650 nm LC(50) 0.14 mg/10 mL). Lowest toxicity of pure (8 h LC(50) 0.14 mg/10 mL) and extracted Pa (8 h LC(50) 1.25 mg/10 mL) was noted under 400 nm. Pa was found to be toxic in laboratory conditions also. The results presented in this paper indicate that pheophorbide a possess potential larvicidal activity against Fasciola gigantica larvae in different wavelengths of visible light, sunlight, and laboratory conditions.