A preliminary study on larvicidal efficacy of three traditional medicinal plants against dengue vector, Aedes Aegyptis

Synthetic insecticides used to control mosquito vectors have led to the development of mosquito resistance, environmental pollution and undesirable adverse effects on non-target organisms. Thus use of herbal insecticides as a means of vector control is getting wide acceptance. The present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of leaf extracts of Glyricidia maculate, Manihot esculanta and Glycosmis pentaphylla against dengue and chikunguniya vector Aedes aegypti. The larvicidal efficacy was tested against the early 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegypti at concentrations of 500 and1000 ppm. Larval mortality was observed against petroleum ether, methanol and ethyl acetate extracts after 24h and 48 h. Manihot esculanta extract in ethyl acetate and Glycosmis pentaphylla extract in petroleum ether provided highest mortality rates of 69.9% and 69.6% respectively with 500ppm in 24 hrs against Aedes aegypti. Further investigation is needed to explore the bioactive principles involved in action.