Mosquito Larvicidal Potential of Gossypium hirsutum (Bt cotton) Leaves Extracts against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi larvae

BACKGROUND: We aimed to extract the ingredients from leaves of Gossypium hirsutum (Bt cotton) using different solvents and evaluate for potential use to control different larval stages of mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative estimation of ingredients from Go. hirsutum (Bt) plant extract was carried out and their inhibitory action against mosquito larvae was determined using mosquito larvicidal assay. RESULTS: LC(50) values of water, ethanol, ethyl acetate and hexane extracts for Ae. aegypti were 211.73±21.49, 241.64±19.92, 358.07±32.43, 401.03±36.19 and 232.56±26.00, 298.54±21.78, 366.50±30.59, 387.19±31.82 for 4(th) instar of An. stephensi, respectively. The water extract displayed lowest LC(50) value followed by ethanol, ethyl acetate and hexane. Owing to the comparatively better activity of water extract, its efficacy was further evaluated for mosquito larvicidal activity, which exhibited LC(50) values of 133.95±12.79, 167.65±11.34 against 2(nd) and 3(rd) instars of Ae. aegypti and 145.48±11.76, 188.10±12.92 against 2(nd) and 3(rd) instars of An. stephensi, respectively. Crude protein from the water extract was precipitated using acetone and tested against 2(nd), 3(rd) and 4(th) instars of Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi. It revealed further decrease in LC(50) values as 105.72±25.84, 138.23±23.18, 126.19±25.65, 134.04±04 and 137.88±17.59, 154.25±16.98 for 2(nd), 3(rd) and 4(th) instars of Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi, respectively. CONCLUSION: Leaves extracts of Go. hirsutum (Bt) is potential mosquito larvicide and can be used as a potent alternative to chemical insecticides in integrated pest management.