Larvicidal activity of aqueous Mimusops elengi seeds-synthesized silver nanoparticles against Aedes aegypti and Qulex quinquefasciatus

Abstract

To investigate the synthesized silver nanoparticles using aqueous Mimusops elengi (M. elengi) seeds extract against two important mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. The M. elengi-synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infra-red (FT-IR) and further monitored by TEM and SEM. The M. elengi-synthesized Ag NPs to be effective against A. aegypti (LC50= 16.59 µg/ml; LC90= 30.46 µg/ml) and C. quinquefasciatus (LC50= 18.75 µg/ml; LC90= 33.60 µg/ml). The control showed nil mortality in the concurrent assay. The UV-visible spectroscopy showed a maximum absorbance peak at 470 nm which corresponds to the Ag NPs. The FT-IR spectrum showed prominent peaks (3433.29, 3387.00, 2924.09, 2765.92, 2364.73, 2092.77, 1774.51, 1639.49, 1508.33, 1384.89, 825.53 and 462.92 cm-1) in the region of 4000–400 cm-1. The TEM image showed the NPs with an average size of 27.44 nm. The SEM image of M. elengi-synthesized Ag NPs revealed their shape spherical, pentagonal and triangular. To conclude M. elengi-synthesized Ag NPs have a potential to be used as a drug for the control of A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus through eco-friendly and cost-effective approach.