Background/objectives: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that represents a serious public health problem. An alternative for the control of snails, intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis, is the use of molluskicides. Niclosamide, recommended by the WHO, has limitations, such as environmental toxicity, which has driven the search for safer and biodegradable alternatives, especially of plant origin. In this context, this study investigated the biological activity of Cymbopogon winterianus essential oil on embryos, juveniles, and adults of Biomphalaria glabrata and cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni. Methods: Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from fresh leaves via the Clevenger system and characterized via gas chromatography (GC/MS and GC/FID), revealing geraniol (25.0%), citronellal (29.2%), citronellol (10.5%) and elemol (9.6%) as the main components. Results: The results revealed lethal concentrations 90 (LC₉₀) for young and adult snails of 60.72 mg/L, 74.21 mg/L and 115.35 mg/L, respectively. In the histological analysis, no changes were observed in the tissues of the mollusks exposed to the lethal concentration 25 (LC₂₅). However, the lethal concentrations 50 (LC₅₀) and 75 (LC₇₅) caused crystalline concretions in proximity to the renal saccular portion. At a concentration of 60 mg/L, the oil resulted in 100% lethality in embryos and cercaricidal activity greater than 90% in 3 h. Acute toxicity tests in mice via the intraperitoneal or oral route did not reveal toxic effects, with hematological and biochemical parameters within the reference values. Furthermore, the oil did not inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), indicating low toxicity to fish, and caused a slight reduction in human butyrylcholinesterase (hBChE) activity without affecting human AChE, which suggests low toxicity to mammalian tissues. In terms of environmental impact, the oil was not toxic to algae until the 75th day, with mortality observed thereafter. Conclusions: These results indicate that essential oils have great potential as biodegradable and safe alternatives for controlling mollusks and interrupting the schistosomiasis cycle.

Phycocyanin (PC) is commercially exploited in various commercial sectors, as novel applications are developed rapidly. However, the state-of-the-art is difficult to define, given the extremely heterogeneous information available. Hence, this study aimed to perform a technological and scientific review on PC production from Spirulina (Arthrospira spp.), based on a bibliometric analysis of patents and research articles deposited from 2015 to 2023. To close the knowledge gap evidenced by the prospection, we optimized the instrumental conditions of microalgae cultivation, i.e., orbital agitation, culture volume, and cultivation time, for the production of PC. We assessed the color parameters and stability of the PC used as an ice cream colorant. The prospection highlighted rather diverse points of view between academia and the industry regarding PC production methods. The optimization showed a substantial impact of cultivation time on PC yield and purity. A purification step via precipitation was note necessary to obtain food-grade PC (purity > 0.7). Optimal experimental conditions were 180 rpm, 250 mL, and 14 days of cultivation. The ice cream colored using PC from the optimized cultivation conditions showed concentration-dependent color variations, without significant color losses for 90 days.