Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles based on using Croton urucurana and their toxicity against freshwater snail species Biomphalaria glabrata

Green plant-based silver nanoparticles (GP-Ag NPs) have contributed to the development of ecological technologies with low environmental impact and safer for human health, as well as demonstrating potential for the control of vectors and intermediate hosts. However, knowledge about its toxicity in the early stages of gastropod development remains scarce. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the toxicity of GP-Ag NPs synthesized from Croton urucurana leaf extracts in snail species Biomphalaria glabrata, which is an intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni parasite. GP-Ag NPs were synthesized using two types of plant extracts (aqueous and hydroethanolic) and characterized using multiple techniques. Bioassays focused on investigating GP-Ag NPs and plant extracts were carried out with embryos and newly hatched snails, for 144 h and 96 h, respectively; toxicity was analyzed based on mortality, hatching, development inhibition, and morphological changes. Results have shown that both GP-Ag NPs were more toxic to embryos and newly hatched snails than the investigated plant extracts. GP-Ag NPs deriving from aqueous extract have higher molluscicidal activity than those deriving from hydroethanolic extract. Both GP-Ag NPs induced mortality, hatching delay, development inhibition, and morphological changes (i.e., hydropic embryos), indicating their molluscicidal activities. Moreover, embryos were more sensitive to GP-Ag NPs than newly hatched snails. Thus, the toxicity of GP-Ag NPs to freshwater snails depends on the type of extracts and the snail's developmental stages. These findings can contribute to the development of green nanobiotechnologies applicable to control snails of medical importance.