Molluscicidal Activity of Compounds From the Roots of Aralia armata Against the Golden Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata)

Background: Aralia armata (Araliaceae) is considered to exhibit effective molluscicidal activity, however, the relationship between the chemical components and molluscicidal activity has not been clearly elucidated. This research attempts to decipher these correlations among the 15 compounds isolated from Vietnam-grown A. armata roots against the freshwater snail, Pomacea canaliculata, a gastropod causing severe damage in agricultural production. Methods: Fifteen saponins were isolated from the methanol root extract of A. armata using chromatographic methods and were identified using spectroscopic techniques. The compounds were screened for molluscicidal activity against P. canaliculata, as well as toxicity against brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) and phytotoxicity against rice germination and growth. Results: The saponin compounds exhibited extraordinary inhibition of P. canaliculata with LC50 values ranging from 7.90 to 17.50 µg/mL. Notably, the active compounds from A. armata exhibit safety for both nontarget aquatic animals, specifically Artemia sp. with LC50 values between 148.55 and 193.22 µg/mL, and the growth and development of Oryza sativa L. plants showed very little difference compared with the negative control. A molecular docking analysis indicated P. canaliculata acetylcholinesterase (PcAChE) and the actin-binding protein villin (PcVillin) to be potential biomolecular targets of the A. armata saponins. Conclusion: The present experimental and in silico data illustrate the potential of A. armata in agricultural applications.