Moringa oleifera (Lam.) and Momordica charantia (Lam.¬) as Potential Larvicides and Fumigants of Culex Mosquitoes

Abstract

Mosquitoes cause life threatening diseases such as yellow fever, malaria, filariasis, encephalitis infection etc. The focus of this research is to evaluate the larvicidal and fumigant properties of Moringa oleifera and Momordica charantia extracts on the larvae and adult mosquitoes. The leaves of both plants were dried and pulverized into fine powder. Rotary evaporator was used to extract the plant oils. The results showed that Momordica charantia was more effective as larvicide than Moringa oleifera as its evoked 100% larval mortality at 20% concentration for 3 hours with LC50 and LC90 of 0.5% and 8.5% respectively. Moringa oleifera produced 100% larval mortality and LC50 (0.75%) and LC90 (10%) at 25% concentration for 4 hours. Similarly, the leaf extract of Momordica charantia is a better fumigant than Moringa oleifera, the former produced LC50 of 0.5% and LC90 of 3.75%, while the latter produced LC50 and LC90 of 1.05% and 4.25% respectively. The significantly higher larvicidal and fumigant activities observed in Momordica charantia is due to the presence of cardiac glycosides only in the plant in addition to saponins, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids which are common to both plants. Therefore botanicals are advocated to be included in vector control programs. This is because botanicals are relatively safe, cheap and easy to obtain in many parts of the world.