Larvicidal efficacy of ethanolic leaf extracts of four selected local plants from hail region, northern Saudi Arabia, against the dengue fever vector, Aedes aegypti (L.) Under laboratory conditions

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of ethanolic leaf extracts from four selected local plants, Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple), Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood), Pergularia tomentosa (Fattaka), and Rhanterium epapposum (Arfaj), from Hail region, northern Saudi Arabia, against the larval stages of the Dengue fever vector, Aedes aegypti. Data analyses revealed that ethanolic extracts of both R. epapposum and A. annua were more toxic to the 4th instar larvae of Ae. aegypti compared to the other two plants. The lethal effect of the ethanolic extract of A. annua on the larvae was more effective with time, as the mortality rate increased with spent time, with the highest mortality rate recorded, 95%, was after 72 hours. Moreover, the study revealed that the ethanolic extract of A. annua showed more larvicidal efficacy against Ae. aegypti larvae under lower concentrations compared to the other three plants.