Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Solanum mammosum L. (Solanaceae) fruit extract and their larvicidal activity against Aedes aegyptiL. (Diptera: Culicidae).

Fernanda Pilaquinga,Danny Ganchala,Alexis Debut,Neus Piña,Bianca Morejón,Jeroni Morey,Marco Neira,Elvina Viennet

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0224109

Abstract

The family of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) contains several species of major public health relevance due to their role as vectors of human disease. One of these species, Aedes aegypti, is responsible for the transmission of some of the most important vector-borne viruses affecting humankind, including dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika. Traditionally, control of Ae. aegypti and other arthropod species has relied on the use of a relatively small diversity of chemical insecticides. However, widespread and intensive use of these substances has caused significant adverse environmental effects and has contributed to the appearance of pesticide-resistant populations in an increasing number of locations around the world, thereby dramatically reducing their efficiency. Therefore, it becomes urgent to develop novel alternative tools for vector control. In that context, our study aimed at evaluating the insecticidal activity against Ae. aegypti of aqueous extracts obtained from the fruits of Solanum mammosum L., as well as silver nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous extracts from this plant species (SmAgNPs). To perform the test, third instar Ae. aegypti larvae were exposed to increasing concentrations of plant extract and SmAgNPs for 24 h. Our results suggest that both the aqueous extract and SmAgNPs were toxic to the larvae, with SmAgNPs displaying a much higher level of toxicity than the extract alone, as reflected in their LC50 values (0.06 ppm vs 1631.27 ppm, respectively). These results suggest that both S. mammosum extracts and SmAgNPs exhibit noteworthy larvicidal activity, and should be further explored as potential source of alternative tools in the fight against insect vectors of human disease.

Highlights

Aedes aegypti continues to be one of the most important vectors of human arboviral disease world-wide, including yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika [1]
Since no commercial vaccines exist for most diseases spread by Ae. aegypti, mosquito control remains the key component of all prevention and control campaigns, which usually rely on strategies such as pesticide spraying, the use of biological control agents and environmental management, among others [5]
Our results suggest that the aqueous extract obtained from S. mammosum fruit is an effective larvicide against Ae. aegypti

Summary

Introduction

Aedes aegypti continues to be one of the most important vectors of human arboviral disease world-wide, including yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika [1]. While the adult stages of medically important mosquitoes are usually controlled by spraying pesticides around the areas where these species forage and rest, the aquatic larval stages are controlled by either draining breeding sites or rendering them toxic to mosquito larvae through the use of larvicides such as organophosphates, growth inhibitors or bacterial insecticides This marked dependence on chemical spraying has caused alarm in the international scientific community due to multiple studies revealing the negative effects that long term use of these products has on non-target organisms such as humans, wildlife, fish and arthropod species [8,9,10,11]. The development of novel, environmentally friendly and efficient tools for mosquito control is of paramount importance in order to ensure our future capacity to prevent and control the diseases transmitted by these insects

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion