Mosquito larvicidal, pupicidal and ovidical effects of the different extracts of the leaves of Peltophorum pterocarpum against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus

Abstract

Abstract Background Mosquitoes are vectors for several diseases like dengue, chikingunea, malaria etc. The three important mosquito species in India are Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi. Several plant extracts and phytoconstituents have been tested for antimosquito activity. In our present investigation, we have studied, the mosquito larvicidal, pupicidal and ovicidal activities of the successive n-hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of leaves of Peltophorum pterocarpum (Fabaceae). Results The two mosquito species studied were Ae. agypti and Cx. quinquefasiatus. The larvicdial activity on both mosquitoes was in the order methanol > chloroform > n-hexne. The LC 50 values for these extracts were 111.77 and 158.93 ppm (methanol extract), 170.74 and 169.18 ppm (chloroform extract), 219.14 and 203.48 ppm (n-hexane) respectively for both mosquitoes. The pupicidal activity was in the order chloroform > methanol > n-hexne. The LC50 values for these extracts were 226.01 and 204.041 ppm (chloroform extract), 235.40 and 239.50 ppm (methanol extract), 303.07 and 284.04 ppm (n-hexane,) respectively. The ovicidal activity of the extracts against both the mosquitoes studied was not appreciable. Conclusion The methanol extract revealed higher larvicidal activity, while the chloroform extract showed higher pupicidal activity for both the mosquitoes. Hence, the methanol and chloroform extracts of the leaves of the plant may be taken up for further studies. This is the first detailed report on the antimosquito activity of the successive extracts of the leaves of Peltophorum perocarpum against the two mosquito species Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus.