Synthesis and molluscicidal activity of a triazolopyrimidine derivative against Monacha cartusiana.

Background

One of the common and harmful pests in Egypt's agroecosystems is Monacha cartusiana, highlighting the need for the development of novel and effective molluscicidal agents for improved control.

Results

In this study, a novel triazolopyrimidine derivative was prepared using manganese(II,III) oxide (Mn3O4) nanoparticles as a heterogeneous catalyst. The synthetic compound showed poor cytotoxicity against HFB4 cells and inhibited CACO-2 cell growth. It also showed marked antioxidant effects against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Mortality rates of adult and juvenile snails increased with compound concentration and exposure time. For adults, lethal concentrations at 50% (LC50), 25% (LC25), and 10% (LC10) were 0.51%, 0.1275%, and 0.051%, respectively; for juveniles, they were 0.032%, 0.008%, and 0.0032%, respectively. The total hemocyte count of adult snails significantly decreased after 28 days of exposure to LC25 and LC10. Phenoloxidase levels in soft tissue significantly decreased. For antioxidant biomarkers, superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly decreased, while malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) significantly increased. After exposure to LC10, mild histological abnormalities were observed in digestive gland sections, including vacuolation and necrosis of epithelial cells in some tubule regions; after exposure to LC25, serious histological abnormalities, including necrosis of hepatopancreas tubules, were conspicuous. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed many ultrastructural abnormalities in the digestive gland of treated snails.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that the synthetic compound exhibits promising molluscicidal activity against M. cartusiana, making it the key result and a potential candidate for further investigation as a molluscicidal agent. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.