Larvicidal potential of Juglans regia male flower against Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus

Abstract

The diseases vectored by mosquitoes continue to be a main cause of illnesses and death throughout the world. The methanol extract of Juglans regia male flower was screened for larvicidal activity against three therapeutically important mosquito vectors viz., malarial vector, Anopheles stephensi; dengue vector, Aedes aegypti and the filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. The larvicidal activity was assayed against the early fourth-instar larvae of tested mosquito species at a concentration ranging from 12.5 to 200 ppm under laboratory conditions. The methanol extract recorded significant mortality against the early fourth-instar larvae of the tested species. After 12 and 24 h of exposure period, the highest effect was recorded in An. stephensi with LC₅₀ values of 139.87 and 59.80 ppm and LC₉₀ values of 288.96 and 166.73 ppm, respectively, followed by Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The results could be useful in search for newer, safer and more effective natural larvicidal agents.

Keywords:

• Anopheles stephensi
• Aedes aegypti
• Culex quinquefasciatus
• Juglans regia
• larvicidal activity

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to The Director, Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (ICMR-Government of India), Madurai for the supply of mosquito eggs/rafts.