Eco-Friendly Approach to Control Mosquitos (A. stephensi, C. quinquefasciatus, and A. aegypti) Using Silver Nanoparticle

Abstract

The available controlling agents for mosquito vectors are chemical insecticides and the frequent usage of these insecticides creating resistance among mosquito vectors and environmental pollutions. Thus, the study was designed to synthesize and characterize the Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) through a methanol leaf extract of Ocimum canum and find the larvicidal prospective of the AgNPs on the 4th instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes aegypti. The obtained outcomes show that the methanol leaf extract of O. canum was effectively reduced the silver ions and produce constant silver nanoparticles. It was characterized and confirmed by various scientific techniques such as UV-vis spectrum, XRD, SEM, FT-IR and EDaX. Various concentrations (10, 50, 150, 200, and 250 ppm) of characterized nanoparticles were tested for larvicidal activity. The premier larval death was observed at 24 h of treatment on A. aegypti with LC50= 17.03 ppm, followed by C. quinquefasciatus with LC50= 14.89 ppm of methanol extract of O. canum and no death was noticed on A. stephensi. The LD90 value for A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus were 24.18 & 20.65 ppm respectively. Hence, the Ag nanoparticles produced from methanol leaf extract of O. canum retains efficiency to control A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus. Thus, it might support partially to replace the chemical insecticide which used against these vectors and might contribute to reduce environmental pollution.