Abstract
BackgroundEssential oils are currently studied for the control of different disease vectors, because of their efficacy on targeted organisms. In the present investigation, the larvicidal potential of essential oil extracted from Indian borage (Plectranthus amboinicus) was studied against the African anthropophagic malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. The larvae of An. gambiae s.s laboratory colony and An. gambiae s.l of wild populations were assayed and the larval mortality was observed at 12, 24 and 48 h after exposure period with the concentrations of 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 ppm.FindingsLarval mortality rates of the essential oil was entirely time and dose dependent. The LC50 values of the laboratory colony were 98.56 (after 12h) 55.20 (after 24 h) and 32.41 ppm (after 48 h) and the LC90 values were 147.40 (after 12h), 99.09 (after 24 h) and 98.84 ppm (after 48 h). The LC50 and LC90 values of the wild population were 119.52, 179.85 (after 12h) 67.53, 107.60 (after 24 h) and 25.51, 111.17 ppm (after 48 h) respectively. The oil showed good larvicidal potential after 48 h of exposure period against An. gambiae. The essential oil of Indian borage is a renowned natural source of larvicides for the control of the African malaria vector mosquito, An. gambiae.ConclusionThe larvicidal efficacy shown by plant extracts against An. gambiae should be tested in semi field and small scale trials for effective compounds to supplement the existing larval control tools.
Highlights
Essential oils are currently studied for the control of different disease vectors, because of their efficacy on targeted organisms
The larvicidal efficacy shown by plant extracts against An. gambiae should be tested in semi field and small scale trials for effective compounds to supplement the existing larval control tools
Based on the previous report, the current study evaluated the toxicity of this essential oil against the laboratory colony (An. gambiae s.s) and wild populations of the African malaria vector mosquito, An. gambiae s.l
Summary
Malaria is the most important parasitic disease that has created major public health problems in the tropical and sub-tropical regions, in spite of the decrease of malaria cases and vector populations. The use of synthetic insecticides for the control of adult anopheline mosquitoes through indoor residual house spraying and insecticide impregnated materials have shown to decrease in efficacy over time in recent years in various parts of Africa [3] This is due to the tolerance of adult mosquitoes against synthetic insecticides used for bed nets/indoor residual spray [1] and the widespread use of a single class of insecticide increases the risk that mosquitoes will develop resistance, which could rapidly lead to a major public health problem [4]. Based on the previous report, the current study evaluated the toxicity of this essential oil against the laboratory colony (An. gambiae s.s) and wild populations of the African malaria vector mosquito, An. gambiae s.l
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