Chemical Composition, Larvicidal and Adult Emergence Inhibition Activities of <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> Del. Seed and <i>Aristolochia albida</i> Duch. Root Extracts against Malaria Vector, <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> Giles

Abstract

Background: Anopheles gambiae is enemy number one of mankind in Africa and particularly in Cameroon due to its ability of transmitting malaria which is the deadliest disease in this part of the world. Synthetic insecticides have been used to control malaria vectors but they have negative effects on non-target organisms and are environmentally unfriendly. Control of mosquitoes at larval stages using phytochemicals is currently the leading tool to reduce the mosquito population and so the reduction of malaria transmission rates. Therefore, the present study was to evaluate the phytochemical contents, larvicidal and adult emergence inhibition activities of Balanites aegyptiaca seed and Aristolochia albida root solvents extracts against Anopheles gambiae larvae. Methods: The World Health Organization standard protocols were followed for the different bioassays. Concentrations ranging from 500 - 2000 ppm for larvicidal and 500 - 1500 ppm for IGRs were used. Results: Both plants showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, terpenoids and oils except the absence of phenols in Aristolochia albida. The larvicidal activity of Aristolochia albida extracts showed that hexane and methanol fractions were the most active killing relatively all exposed larvae with the LC50 values of 420.1 and 453 ppm, respectively. The same observation was made in hexane fraction from Balanites aegyptiaca (LC50 = 588 ppm). The insect growth inhibitory activity of Aristolochia albida extracts proved that hexane and methanol fractions relatively caused a 100% inhibition in the mosquito development, recording the EI50 values of 482.4 and 555.6 ppm, respectively. The same trend was observed with Balanites aegyptiaca hexane fraction registering better EI50 of 623.9 ppm. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that Balanites aegyptiaca seed and Aristolochia albida seed extracts are rich in phytochemicals capable of killing mosquito larvae and disrupting mosquito larval development. This could contribute to the control of mosquito populations and improved management of malaria.