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Larvicidal potential of medicinal plant extracts against Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae)

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Abstract

Mosquito control is facing a threat due to the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. The acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane, methanol and petroleum ether extracts of leaf, flower and seed of Cassia auriculata L., Leucas aspera (Willd.), Rhinacanthus nasutus KURZ., Solanum torvum Swartz and Vitex negundo Linn. were tested against fourth instar larvae of malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Japanese encephalitis vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae). The larval mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects; however, the highest mortality was found in leaf petroleum ether, flower methanol extracts of C. auriculata, flower methanol extracts of L. aspera and R. nasutus, leaf and seed methanol extracts of S. torvum and leaf hexane extract of V. negundo against the larvae of A. subpictus (LC50 = 44.21, 44.69, 53.16, 41.07, 35.32, 28.90 and 44.40 ppm; LC90 = 187.31, 188.29, 233.18, 142.66, 151.60, 121.05 and 192.11 ppm, respectively) and against the larvae of C. tritaeniorhynchus (LC50 = 69.83, 51.29, 81.24, 71.79, 44.42, 84.47 and 65.35 ppm; LC90 = 335.26, 245.63, 300.45, 361.83, 185.09, 351.41 and 302.42 ppm, respectively). These results suggest that the leaf petroleum ether, flower methanol extracts of C. auriculata, leaf and seed methanol extracts of S. torvum and leaf hexane extract of V. negundo have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the A. subpictus and C. tritaeniorhynchus. This is the first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity of the medicinal plant extracts.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to C. Abdul Hakeem College Management, Dr. S. Mohammed Yousuff, Principal, Dr. Ahmed Najib, Reader and HOD of Zoology Department and Dr. Sait Sahul Hameed, Reader in Zoology for their help and suggestion.

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  1. Unit of Bioactive Natural Products, P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, C. Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam, 632 509, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India

    C. Kamaraj, A. Bagavan, A. Abdul Rahuman, A. Abduz Zahir, G. Elango & G. Pandiyan

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  1. C. Kamaraj
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  2. A. Bagavan
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  3. A. Abdul Rahuman
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  4. A. Abduz Zahir
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  5. G. Elango
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Correspondence to A. Abdul Rahuman.

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Kamaraj, C., Bagavan, A., Rahuman, A.A. et al. Larvicidal potential of medicinal plant extracts against Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae). Parasitol Res 104, 1163–1171 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1306-8

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