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Larvicidal activity of fatty acid methyl esters of Vitex species against Culex quinquefasciatus

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Abstract

The larvicidal activity of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) extracts of Vitex altissima, Vitex negundo and Vitex trifolia was studied against early fourth-instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus. The fatty composition was analysed by gas chromatography. The highest percentage of lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linolenic acid were recorded in V. negundo. The highest percentage of linolenic acid was recorded in V. trifolia. The FAME extract of V. trifolia showed the highest larvicidal activity with an LC50 value of 9.25 ppm followed by V. altissima (14.82 ppm) and V. negundo (18.64 ppm).

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Acknowledgement

We thank Prof. R. Panneerselvam, Head, Department of Botany, Annamalai University for providing laboratory facility to carry out this study.

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Correspondence to Venugopalan Venkatesalu.

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Kannathasan, K., Senthilkumar, A., Venkatesalu, V. et al. Larvicidal activity of fatty acid methyl esters of Vitex species against Culex quinquefasciatus . Parasitol Res 103, 999–1001 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1078-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1078-1

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