The toxic effect of some traditional herbs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against Aedes aegypti larvae as a safety method for control

Abstract

Mosquitoes are effective disease vectors for human and veterinary health because they share a close environment with humans and represent a major public health problem. Saudi Arabia is home to the endemic dengue fever disease, carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Conventional insecticides based on organophosphates and insect growth regulators are the most effective short-term control methods for this vector. However, these insecticides are toxic to non-target organisms, the environment, and humans. Eight plant extracts (Ilex paraguariensis, Camellia sinensis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Elettaria cardamomum, Matricaria chamomilla, Allium sativum, Coffea arabica, and Piper nigrum) were assayed as insecticides against the 3rd and 4th larval stage of Ae. aegypti (L.), after 24 and 48 h of exposure. After 24 h, E. cardamomum and M. chamomilla showed the highest mortality rate (60%). C. zeylanicum was the most effective plant extract (LC50 = 1.12%), and I. paraguariensis had the lowest toxicity (LC50 = 7.14%). Further investigation is needed to purify the active ingredients responsible for their toxicity to mosquito larvae and to investigate the mechanisms of action of plant extracts in water and other solvents.