Aliphatic Amide from Seeds of <i>Carica papaya</i> as Mosquito Larvicide, Pupicide, Adulticide, Repellent and Smoke Toxicant

Abstract

Crude and solvent extracts of seed extract of Carica Papaya was investigated for anti-mosquito potential, including larvicidal, pupicidal, adulticidal, smoke toxicity and repellent activities against Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi , the vector of filaria and malaria respectively. The mortality rate of 3rd larval instars of Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. stephensi at 0.5% concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the mortality rates at 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4% concentrations of crude extract. Among the solvent extracts, the petroleum ether extract showed the highest mortality at 100 ppm with LC 50 and LC 90 values of 31.16 ppm and 341.86 ppm against Cx. quinquefasciatus ; 18.39 ppm and 250.76 ppm against An. stephensi . In testing for pupicidal activity, this plant extract exhibited a slightly pupicidal potency with LC 50 values of 86.53 ppm and 72.16 ppm against Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. stephensi respectively. It showed repellency against the adult females of both mosquito species with 78% and 92% protection respectively. It also provided biting protection time of 4 h and 5 h respectively against Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. stephensi . In adulticidal activity there is 70% and 63.3% death of adult mosquito against Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. stephensi after 72 h. The smoke toxicity test showed that out of 200 adult mosquitoes 190 adult mosquito of Cx. quinquefasciatus and 186 mosquito of An. stephensi dropped down at the floor after 5 h of smoke. One toxic compounds was detected having R f = 0.853 (80% and 83% mortality in 24 h respectively for Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. stephensi ). IR analysis provided preliminary information about the polyhydroxy aliphatic amide nature of the active ingredient.