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Larvicidal activity of catechin isolated from Leucas aspera against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

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Abstract

Vector control is facing a threat due to the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Insecticides of plant origin my serve as an alternative biocontrol technique in the future. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the larvicidal activity of fractions and compounds from the whole-plant methanol extracts of Leucas aspera on the fourth-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus. The larvae were exposed to fractions with concentrations ranging from 1.25, 2.25, 5, 10, and 20 ppm and isolated compounds. After 24 h exposure, larval mortality was assessed. Among the eight fractions, four from hexane extractions showed potent larvicidal activity against tested mosquito species at 20 ppm concentration. The isolated compound catechin showed pronounced larvicidal activity at very low concentrations. The LC50 and LC90 values of catechin were 3.05 and 8.25 ppm against Ae. aegypti, 3.44 and 8.89 ppm against An. stephensi, and 3.76 and 9.79 ppm against C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. The isolated compound was subjected to spectral analyses (GC-MS, FTIR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR) to elucidate the structure and to compare with spectral data literature.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to University Grants Commission (F.No.35-69/2008 (SR) dated 20 Mar 2009 for providing financial assistance to carry out the present investigations. Our thanks are also extended to the Principal, Presidency College, Chennai, for providing infrastructure and research facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Presidency College (Autonomous), Chennai, 600 005, Tamil Nadu, India

    Devan Elumalai, Periaswamy Hemalatha & Patheri Kunyil Kaleena

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Guindy campus, Chennai, 600 025, Tamil Nadu, India

    Maduraiveeran Hemavathi

  3. Department of Chemistry, Presidency College (Autonomous), Chennai, 600 005, Tamil Nadu, India

    Chandrasekar Vijayalakshmi Deepaa

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  1. Devan Elumalai
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  2. Maduraiveeran Hemavathi
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  3. Periaswamy Hemalatha
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  5. Patheri Kunyil Kaleena
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Correspondence to Patheri Kunyil Kaleena.

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Elumalai, D., Hemavathi, M., Hemalatha, P. et al. Larvicidal activity of catechin isolated from Leucas aspera against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasitol Res 115, 1203–1212 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4856-6

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