Flavonoids may act by inhibiting the detoxi-fication system of the snail. Silva (2007) found
changes in the enzyme cytochrome P450 on the
land snail Cantareus aspersus (Müller) (Helicidae)
exposed to tobacco leaves, Nicotiana tabacum
(Solanaceae). This enzyme is part of a family of
proteins that acts in detoxification process degrading
various xenobiotics and turning them into easily
excreted molecules (Guecheva and Henrique 2003).