Abstract
BackgroundCulex mosquitoes are a major vector of public health importance and have been implicated for the transmission of some parasitic diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and West Nile virus. It has also been reported to cause several problems which include developing resistance to synthetic insecticides, thus, necessitating the search for an insecticide of botanical origin which is bio-degradable, non-toxic, and readily available for man’s use. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemicals present in Petiveria alliacea and the fumigant efficacy of its oil extract against the adult stage of Culex quinquefasciatus.ResultsThe result obtained shows that the oil extract of Petiveria alliacea at all concentrations had a significant effect on the adult mosquito for fumigant toxicity with percentage mortality range of 75.00–100% within a 2-h exposure period (P < 0.05) for the leaf extract and 81.67–100% mortality for the root bark extract. The synergistic effect of the leaf and root bark oil was also investigated. The lethal concentration (LC50) of the leaf, root, and synergistic effect of leaf and root oil extract required to kill 50% of the adult Culex quinquefasciatus was 0.45 ml, 0.53 ml, and 0.47 ml, respectively. However, 2.20 ml, 1.194 ml, and 1.15 ml of the leaf, root, and leaf and root oil extract were required to kill 90% (LC90) after a 2-h exposure period. A total of 29 organic compounds were isolated from leaf and root bark oil of the plant. The study has revealed that the leaves and root bark of Petiveria alliacea are rich in phytochemicalsConclusionThese findings suggested Petiveria alliacea oil extract could be a good source of insecticide which may be used for the production of biopesticides. The present findings have important implications in the practical control of adult mosquito by using botanical insecticides. These plant extracts are easy to prepare, inexpensive, and safe for mosquito control which possesses enough insecticidal potential and can be used directly around human dwellings. The result suggests possible utilization of the cheap and readily available botanicals for possible control of mosquitoes as part of an integrated vector management programme.
Highlights
Culex mosquitoes are a major vector of public health importance and have been implicated for the transmission of some parasitic diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and West Nile virus
Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus are the two Culex species with the most important public health importance and are capable of transmitting bancroftian encephalitis caused by the West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis
The approach to combat this disease largely relied on interruption of the disease transmission cycle by either targeting the mosquito larvae through spraying of stagnant waters that serve as breeding sites or by killing the adult mosquitoes using insecticides
Summary
Culex mosquitoes are a major vector of public health importance and have been implicated for the transmission of some parasitic diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and West Nile virus. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae, Anophelinae) are the most important order in the animal kingdom which cause millions of deaths every year. This order is responsible for transmitting the most important vector-borne diseases including malaria, lymphatic filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile virus, and dengue fever as well as yellow fever and other forms of encephalitis (Barik et al 2012). Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus are the two Culex species with the most important public health importance and are capable of transmitting bancroftian encephalitis caused by the West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis. Mosquito resistance to the currently used insecticides and the emergence of multi-drug-resistant strains of parasites have escalated the malaria problem in the affected countries (Oduola et al 2010)
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