Larvicidal efficacy of medicinal plant extracts against the vector mosquito Aedes albopictus

Abstract

Mosquitoes are pestiferous vectors which are responsible for the transmission of various dreadful diseases, causing millions of deaths every year. Indiscriminate use of chemical insecticides has resulted in the development of resistance by these organisms, resulting in rebounding vectorial capacity. Moreover, such chemicals have given rise to serious environmental issues. This has led to the search for phytochemicals, which are having several advantages over the chemical insecticides in the control of vectors. The present endeavor is to assess the larvicidal ability of the aqueous extracts of ten medicinal plants against mosquito larvae Aedes albopictus, reared from eggs under laboratory conditions. Mortality percentages and LC50 were calculated. Among plants under experimentation, Ocimum gratissimum, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula, Aegle marmelos and Lantana camara were the most effective.