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Larvicidal activity of some Euphorbiaceae plant extracts against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

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Abstract

Larvicidal activity of ethyl acetate, butanol, and petroleum ether extracts of five species of Euphorbiaceae plants, Jatropha curcas, Pedilanthus tithymaloides, Phyllanthus amarus, Euphorbia hirta, and Euphorbia tirucalli, were tested against the early fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L. and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say). The larval mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed low larvicidal effects; however, the highest larval mortality was found in petroleum ether extract. The LC50 value of petroleum ether extracts of J. curcas, P. tithymaloides, P. amarus, E. hirta, and E. tirucalli were 8.79, 55.26, 90.92, 272.36, and 4.25 ppm, respectively, against A. aegypti and 11.34, 76.61, 113.40, 424.94, and 5.52 ppm, respectively, against C quinquefasciatus. Of the various ratios tested, the petroleum ether extracts of J. curcas and E. tirucalli were observed to be more efficient than the other plant extracts. It is, therefore, suggested that E. tirucalli can be applied as an ideal potential larvicide against A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus. This is an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control of the dengue vector, A. aegypti, and the lymphatic filariasis vector, C. quinquefasciatus.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the C. Abdul Hakeem College Management, Prof. U. Peer, Principal and Dr. Ahmed Najib, HOD of the Zoology Department for their help and suggestions. We wish to thank the Principal and the HOD of the Zoology Department, Loyola College, Chennai for providing the necessary facilities for our experimental work. We are thankful to Dr. S. Narasimhan, Associate Director, SPIC Science Foundation, Chennai for his help and encouragement. AR is indebted to the University Grants Commission, New Delhi for the award of fellowship.

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  1. Unit of Bioactive Natural Products, Department of Zoology, C. Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam, 632 509, India

    A. Abdul Rahuman

  2. Center for Natural Products, SPIC Science Foundation, 64, Mount Road, Chennai, 600 032, India

    Geetha Gopalakrishnan

  3. Department of Zoology, Loyola College, Chennai, 600 032, India

    P. Venkatesan

  4. Department of Chemistry, Muthurangam Government Arts College, Vellore, 632 002, India

    Kannappan Geetha

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Correspondence to A. Abdul Rahuman.

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Rahuman, A.A., Gopalakrishnan, G., Venkatesan, P. et al. Larvicidal activity of some Euphorbiaceae plant extracts against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasitol Res 102, 867–873 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0839-6

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