Plants in the genus Solanum (Solanaceae) produce a great variety of steroidal saponins and glycoalkaloids that confer natural resistance against several pests. Methanolic extracts of 13 Solanum species have now been tested for molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata. The extracts investigated were prepared from the fruit of S. asperum, S. capsicoides, S. palinacantum, S. paludosum, S. paniculatum, S. paraibanum and S. sisymbriifolium, the aerial parts of S. asperum, S. capsicoides, S. crinitum, S. diamantinense, S. megalonyx, S. palinacantum, S. paniculatum, S. sisymbriifolium and S. torvum, and the roots of S. asperum, S. asterophorum, S. palinacantum, S. paludosum, S. paniculatum and S. stipulaceum. Encouragingly, the extracts from S. asperum, S. diamantinese, S. paludosum, S. sisymbriifolium and S. stipulaceum showed significant molluscicidal activity, the median lethal concentrations recorded (20-50 microg/ml) falling well below the threshold, of 100 microg/ml, set for a potential molluscicide by the World Health Organization.

RESUMO: "Bioatividade em Artemia salina de várias espécies de Solanum do Nordeste Brasileiro". Os extratos metanólicos de 13 espécies de Solanum (Solanaceae) foram testados para verififi cação da bioatividade em Artemia salina. As espécies testadas (partes aéreas, raízes e frutos) foram: S. asperum, S. capsicoides, S. palinacantum, S. paludosum, S. paniculatum, S. paraibanum, S. sisymbriifolium, S. crinitum, S. diamantinense, S. megalonyx, S. torvum, S. asterophorum e S. stipulaceum. Das treze espécies testadas, quatro foram inativas. Os extratos dos frutos de S. asperum (CL 50 = 420,5 µg/mL) e S. paludosum (CL 50 = 548,0 µg/mL), partes aéreas de S. diamantinense (CL 50 = 481,0 µg/mL) e S. sisymbrifolium (CL 50 = 382,7 µg/mL), e das raízes S. asperum (CL 50 = 593,4 µg/mL) e S. stipulaceum (CL 50 = 823,1 µg/mL) que mostraram atividade moluscicida contra Biomphalaria glabrata também mostraram atividade tóxica em Artemia salina.Unitermos: Solanaceae, Solanum, Artemia salina, bioatividade. ABSTRACT:The methanolic extracts of 13 Specieis of the genus Solanum (Solanaceae) have been tested for bioactivity in Artemia salina. The extracts investigated were prepared from various parts (aerial parts, roots and fruits) of S. asperum, S. capsicoides, S. palinacantum, S. paludosum, S. paniculatum, S. paraibanum, S. sisymbriifolium, S. crinitum, S. diamantinense, S. megalonyx, S. torvum, S. asterophorum and S. stipulaceum. The lethal concentrations were determined for the extracts and among thirteen plants tested, four appear to be inactive. The extracts of the fruits of S. asperum (LC 50 = 420.5 µg/mL) and S. paludosum (LC 50 = 548.0 µg/mL), aerial parts of S. diamantinense (LC 50 = 481.0 µg/mL) and S. sisymbrifolium (LC 50 = 382.7 µg/mL), and the roots of S. asperum (LC 50 = 593.4 µg/mL) and S. stipulaceum (LC 50 = 823.1 µg/mL), all of which previously showed molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata were also found to be active in the present study with brine shrimp.