# US 2014/0155337 A1 · Molluscicidal Agents and Uses Thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155337 A1 - Document ID: US20140155337A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/115,751 - Filed: 2012-05-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-05 - Assignees: Biotelliga Holdings Limited - Inventors: Stephen Reynold Ford - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155337A1 ## CPC - A01N 65/08: Magnoliopsida [dicotyledons] - A01N 25/04: Dispersions, {emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspension concentrates} or gels (foams A01N25/16) - A01N 45/00: Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, containing compounds having three or more carbocyclic rings condensed among themselves, at least one ring not being a six-membered ring (halogenated hydrocarbons A01N29/08; condensed with heterocyclic rings A01N43/00) - A01N 65/00: Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof (containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ## Abstract The present invention provides molluscicidal saponins and saponin fractions from Camellia sinensis, together with compositions comprising such saponins and saponin fractions, and methods of preparing same. Methods for the control of molluscs, including terrestrial molluscs, such as slugs or snails, using the saponins and saponin fractions or compositions comprising said saponins or saponin fractions optionally together with one or more pesticidal agents including molluscicidal agents, are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-25. (canceled) ### Claim 26 A method for producing a composition comprising one or more saponins from Camellia sinensis, the method comprising: providing Camellia sinensis or a tissue therefrom or an extract thereof, wherein the Camellia sinensis, the tissue, or the extract comprises one or more saponins, admixing the Camellia sinensis or the tissue therefrom or the extract thereof and water, maintaining the admixture for a first period at a) greater than about 100° C., or b) greater than about 1 atmosphere, or c) both (a) and (b), maintaining the admixture for a second period at d) about room temperature, or e) less than one atmosphere, or f) both (d) and (e), and removing the supernatant, and optionally combining the supernatant with one or more agriculturally-acceptable carriers, thereby to form the composition. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the admixture is maintained for a first period at greater than about 100° C. and greater than about 1 atmosphere. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the admixture is maintained for a second period at about room temperature and at less than one atmosphere. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26, wherein the first period is at least about an hour. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26 wherein the second period is at least about 12 hours, more preferably at least about 24 hours. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26 wherein the admixture is maintained for the first period at about 110° C. and at about 1.3 bar. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The method according to claim 26 wherein the admixture is maintained for the second period at about 0.3 bar. ### Claim 33 A method of preparing a saponin or saponin fraction having molluscicidal activity, the method comprising: providing Camellia sinensis or a tissue therefrom or an extract thereof, wherein the Camellia sinensis, the tissue, or the extract comprises one or more saponins, admixing the Camellia sinensis or the tissue therefrom or the extract thereof and water, maintaining the admixture for a first period at a) greater than about 100° C., or b) greater than about 1 atmosphere, or c) both (a) and (b), maintaining the admixture for a second period at d) about room temperature, or e) less than one atmosphere, or f) both (d) and (e), and removing the supernatant, optionally purifying the saponin or saponin fraction, thereby to recover the saponin or saponin fraction. ### Claim 34 A composition comprising one or more molluscicidal saponins or one or more molluscicidal saponin fractions from Camellia sinensis and comprising at least one agriculturally acceptable carrier, wherein the composition is or comprises an aqueous extract from Camellia sinensis wherein the extract is or was prepared by extraction with aqueous solvent at (a) greater than about 100° C., or (b) greater than one atmosphere, or (c) both (a) and (b). ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The composition according to claim 34 wherein the composition is or comprises an aqueous extract having one or more identifying characteristics of one or more saponin fractions described herein in Example 1. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The composition according to claim 35 wherein the identifying characteristic is a mass spectrometry profile essentially as shown in FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The composition according to claim 34 comprising at least about 5 g.L−1 of one or more saponins or saponin fractions. ### Claim 38 An isolated, purified or substantially pure molluscicidal saponin fraction from Camellia sinensis, wherein the fraction is or comprises an aqueous fraction from Camellia sinensis wherein the fraction is or was prepared by extraction with aqueous solvent at (a) greater than about 100° C., or (b) greater than one atmosphere, or (c) both (a) and (b). ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The saponin fraction according to claim 38 having one or more identifying characteristics of one or more saponin fractions described herein in Example 1. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The saponin fraction according to claim 39 wherein the identifying characteristic is a mass spectrometry profile essentially as shown in FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The saponin fraction according to claim 38 wherein the fraction is or was prepared by extraction with aqueous solvent at (a) greater than about 100° C., or (b) greater than one atmosphere, or (c) both (a) and (b), and maintenance for a second period at d) about room temperature, or e) less than one atmosphere, or f) both (d) and (e). ### Claim 42 A method of controlling one or more molluscs, the method comprising contacting the one or more molluscs with a composition comprising one or more molluscicidal saponins or one or more molluscicidal saponin fractions from Camellia sinensis and at least one agriculturally acceptable carrier, wherein the composition is or comprises an aqueous extract from Camellia sinensis wherein the extract is or was prepared by extraction with aqueous solvent at (a) greater than about 100° C., or (b) greater than one atmosphere, or (c) both (a) and (b). ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method according to claim 42 comprising applying the composition to a plant or its surroundings. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The method according to claim 42 wherein the application is prophylactic application. ### Claim 45 (depends on 42) The method according to claim 42 wherein the concentration of saponin is about 0.5 gm/L to about 10 gm/L at application.