A new molluscicidal triterpenoid saponin, napoleonaside [1] has been isolated from the
methanolic extract of the fruit of
Napoleonaea imperialis
. The structure of napoleonaside was established as 3β-
O-[{β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→4)}{α-L-arabinopyranosyl(1→2)- β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)}- β-Dglucuronopyranosyl]-
16α,22α,24,28-tetrahydroxyl-21- β-O-angeloxyolean-12-ene, by spectroscopic (IR,
FABMS,
1H and
13C-NMR) methods. Napoleonaside was tested for its molluscicidal properties against
Biomphalaria glabrata
and was found to be one of the most potent naturally occurring plant molluscicides with
activity of 0.4ppm (observed after 24hrs).
