MOLLUSCICIDAL POTENTIALS OF BUWA INTSIK (ADONIDA MERRILLII)

Abstract

This study is designed to determine the molluscicidal potentials of buwa intsik (Adonida merrillii). Young, matured, and ripe fruits of A. merrillii were crashed and fermented for three weeks and used to treat farm golden kuhol. A. merrillii, which belongs to the order arecales and family palmae, is found to contain arecoline and arecal alkaloid which inhibits acetyl-cholinesterase, and acid and alkaline phosphatase activities in the nervous tissue. Exposure to these known alkaloids attacks the central nervous system leading to the death of the golden kuhol. Statistical analyses showed that fermented ripe A. merrillii fruit was the best treatment in treating golden kuhol. Moreover, time of death of the golden kuhol in the fermented ripe fruits was the fastest among the three treatment conditions. Therefore, buwa intsik poses a great potential as molluscicide.