Molluscicidal Activity of Compounds Isolated from Euphorbia conspicua N. E. Br.

Euphorbia conspicua latex was fractionated into triterpenic and irritant fractions I and II. The triterpenic fraction afforded 15 known compounds and a new triterpene, 3 beta-(E)-cinnamoyleuphorbol. 20-O-Acetyl-3-O-angeloylingenol was isolated from irritant fraction II. The compounds euphol, 3 beta-acetoxyeupha-8,24-diene, 3 beta-(E)-cinnamoyleuphorbol and 20-O-Acetyl-3-O-angeloylingenol were evaluated for molluscicidal activity. 20-O-Acetyl-3-O-angeloylingenol presented LC(100) value of 1 mg mL(-1), equivalent to that of the standard molluscicide niclosamide. Compounds euphol, 3 beta-acetoxyeupha-8,24-diene and 3 beta-(E)-cinnamoyleuphorbol showed low molluscicidal activity. Mutagenic assays (Ames test with strains TA 98, 100 and 102) were performed with 3 beta-(E)-cinnamoyleuphorbol in the presence and absence of metabolic activation (S9 mix). In V79 cells, the cytotoxicity of 3 beta-(E)-cinnamoyleuphorbol was evaluated using the MTT assay and the genotoxicity was assessed using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) with or without S9 mix. Mutagenic or genotoxic activity was not detected, and no significant cytotoxicity was observed for 3 beta-(E)-cinnamoyleuphorbol at lower doses.