Pages: 6-13

Abstract

Chlorophyll derivatives such as pheophorbide and chlorophyllin is used to photodynamically ‎destroy snails, Fasciola and mosquito larvae. These photodynamic products are formed from ‎natural chlorophyll extracted from spinach and any other greens plants. Chlorophyll is ‎insoluble in water so by using chemical modification it can be transformed into water soluble ‎chlorophyllin. The acidification of this chlorophyllin transformed into pheophorbide. As a ‎result these substances are applied very easily in aquatic medium due to their solubility in ‎water. This method implicates significantly low concentrations of pheophorbide. Upon ‎illumination it starts reacting and leading to apoptosis as well as necrosis of the cells in the ‎intestine resulting in the death of the snails and larvae. In developing counties to control ‎fasciolosis and other water borne diseases the use of photodynamic product is inexpensive and ‎therefore a promising approach.‎ An outline on the basics of the photodynamic reactions and about the results obtained ‎thus far using photodynamic properties of pheophorbide in order to control the vectors of ‎parasitic diseases and parasites‎‎‎.