Composition and molluscicidal properties of essential oils of five Moroccan Pinaceae

Essential oils from Pinus halepensis, P. brutia, P. pinaster, P. pinea and Cedrus atlantica were chemically analyzed by gas chromatographic and gas chromatographic mass-spectra, and tested for molluscicidal activity against Bulinus truncatus. The oil from C atlantica was found the most active (LC50 = 0.47 ppm). Among their main constituents, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and myrcene exhibited potent molluscicidal activity (LC50 = 0.49; 0.54 and 0.56 ppm, respectively). These findings have important application of natural products in combating schistosomiasis.