Larvicidal and pupicidal potential of Alchornea cordifolia (Schum. & thonn.) leaf extract against the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: culicidae)

Abstract

The Anopheles mosquito is one of the major medically important pests in Ghana. This research was to evaluate the larvicidal and pupicidal activities of Alchornea cordifolia leaf extract against Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes in the laboratory. Twenty 3rd/4th larval instar as well as two days old pupae were introduced into the treatments and control and replicated four times. The number of dead larvae and pupae were counted and recorded after 24 hours. Larvae and pupae mortality occurred in a dosage-dependent manner. There were significant differences in toxicity level of the leaf extracts on An. gambiae larvae and pupae at concentrations after 24 hours of exposure. LC50 and LC90 recorded after probit analysis for the larvae was 52.19mg/L and 180.10mg/L respectively and that for the pupae was 189.97mg/L and 857.00mg/L respectively. A. cordifolia leaf extract could serve as a potential larvicidal and pupicidal agent.