Mosquito larvicidal potential of four common medicinal plants of India

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Mosquitoes transmit serious human health diseases, causing millions of deaths every year. Plants may be sources of alternative mosquito control agents. The present study was carried out to assess the role of larvicidal activities of the crude extracts of four plants viz. Alternanthera sessilis L. (Amaranthaceae), Trema orientalis L. (Cannabaceae), Gardenia carinata Smith. (Rubiaceae) and Ruellia tuberosa L. (Acanthaceae) against Culex quinquefasciatus Say in laboratory bioassay. METHODS: Selective concentrations (0.5, 1 and 1.5%) of crude extract of all four plant leaves were tested against I(st) to IV(th) instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Log probit analysis (at 95% confidence level) revealed the LC(50) values. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical analyses of crude extracts were also done. The lethal concentrations (%) of crude extracts at 24 h against III(rd) instar larvae were also studied on non-target organisms. RESULT: In a 72 h bioassay experiment with crude extract, the highest mortality was recorded in 1.5 per cent extract. A. sessilis showed the highest mortality (76.7 %) at 1.5 per cent crude extract against II(nd) instar larvae having LC(50) value of 0.35 per cent, followed by R. tuberosa (LC(50) =1.84%), G. carinata (LC(50) = 2.11) and T. orientalis (LC(50) = 2.95%). The regression equation showed a dose-dependent mortality, as the rate of mortality (Y) was positively correlated with the concentration (X). Phytochemical analysis of the crude extract showed the presence of many bioactive phytochemicals such as steroids, alkaloids, terpenes, saponins, etc. No changes in the swimming behaviour and survivality of non-target organism were noticed at the studied concentrations. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Crude extract of the four selected plants showed larvicidal activity against Cx. quinquefasciatus. The extracts at the studied concentrations did not produce any harmful effect on non-target organisms.