Efficacy of medicinal plant extracts against malarial vector, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles subpictus</Emphasis> Grassi

Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adulticidal activity and adult emergence inhibition (EI) of leaf hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa ex Roxb, Andrographis lineata Wallich ex Nees., Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees., Cocculus hirsutus L. Diels, Eclipta prostrata L., and Tagetes erecta L. tested against malarial vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Diptera: Culicidae). All plant extracts showed moderate adulticidal activity and EI effects after 24 h of exposure at 1,000 ppm; however, the highest adulticidal activity was observed in ethyl acetate extract of A.lineata, chloroform extract of A.paniculata, acetone extract of C.hirsutus, and methanol extract of T.erecta (LD₅₀ = 126.92, 95.82, 109.40, and 89.83 ppm; LD₉₀ = 542.95, 720.82, 459.03, and 607.85 ppm); and effective EI was found in leaf acetone extract of the A. marmelos, ethyl acetate extract of A.lineata, methanol extracts of C. hirsutus, and T.erecta, (EI₅₀ = 128.14, 79.39, 143.97, and 92.82 ppm; EI₉₀ = 713.53, 293.70, 682.72, and 582.59 ppm), respectively, against A. subpictus. These results suggest that the leaf methanol extract of C. hirsutus and T.erecta have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of A. subpictus. Therefore, this study provides first report on the mosquito adulticidal activity and EI of plant extracts against malaria vector.     

Evaluation of larvicidal and nymphicidal potential of plant extracts against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles subpictus</Emphasis> Grassi, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Culex tritaeniorhynchus</Emphasis> Giles and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphis gossypii</Emphasis> Glover

The acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane and methanol extracts of peel and leaf extracts of Citrus sinensis, Ocimum canum, Ocimum sanctum and Rhinacanthus nasutus were tested against fourth instar larvae of malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi, Japanese encephalitis vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) and feeding deterrence to nymphs of cotton pest, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae). The larval and nymph mortality were observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal and nymphicidal effects; however, the highest mortality was found in peel chloroform extract of C. sinensis, leaf ethyl acetate extracts of O. canum and O. sanctum and leaf chloroform extract of R. nasutus against the larvae of A. subpictus (LC₅₀ = 58.25, 88.15, 21.67 and 40.46 ppm; LC₉₀ = 298.31, 528.70, 98.34 and 267.20 ppm), peel methanol extract of C. sinensis, leaf methanol extract of O. canum, ethyl acetate extracts of O. sanctum and R. nasutus against the larvae of C. tritaeniorhynchus (LC₅₀ = 38.15, 72.40, 109.12 and 39.32 ppm; LC₉₀ = 184.67, 268.93, 646.62 and 176.39 ppm), peel hexane extract of C. sinensis, leaf methanol extracts of O. canum and R. nasutus and leaf ethyl acetate extract of O. sanctum against the nymph of A. gossypii (LC₅₀ = 162.89, 80.99, 73.27 and 130.19 ppm; LC₉₀ = 595.40, 293.33, 338.74 and 450.90 ppm), respectively. These results suggest that the peel methanol extracts of C. sinensis and O. canum, ethyl acetate leaf extract of O. sanctum and leaf chloroform and ethyl acetate extract of R. nasutus have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the A. subpictus, C. tritaeniorhynchus and A. gossypii.     

Evaluation of medicinal plant extracts against ticks and fluke

The present study was based on assessments of the antiparasitic activities to determine the efficacies of leaf hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa ex Roxb, Andrographis lineata Wallich ex Nees., Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wallich ex Nees., Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels, Eclipta prostrata L., and Tagetes erecta L. against the adult cattle tick Haemaphysalis bispinosa Neumann 1897 (Acarina: Ixodidae), the larvae of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Canestrini 1887 (Acari: Ixodidae) and sheep fluke Paramphistomum cervi Zeder 1790 (Digenea: Paramphistomatidae). All plant extracts showed moderate toxic effect on parasites after 24 h of exposure; however, the highest parasitic activity was found in leaf ethyl acetate extract of A. lineata, methanol extract of A. marmelos, A. paniculata, and C. hirsutus against H. bispinosa (LC₅₀ = 395.27, 358.45, 327.21 and 420.50 ppm); ethyl acetate extract of A. paniculata, C. hirsutus, methanol extracts of A. marmelos, A. lineata, and E. prostrata against the larvae of R. microplus (LC₅₀ = 207.70, 258.61, 134.09, 206.00, and 274.33 ppm); hexane extract of A. lineata, ethyl acetate extract of A. paniculata, E. prostrata, acetone extracts of T. erecta, methanol extracts of A. marmelos and C. hirsutus against P. cervi (LC₅₀ = 254.23, 451.17, 425.73, 253.60, 542.71, and 360.17 ppm), respectively. The present study is the first report on the veterinary parasitic activity of plant extracts from Southern India.     

Oviposition-deterrent,ovicidal, and repellent activities of indigenous plant extracts against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles subpictus</Emphasis> Grassi (Diptera: Culicidae)

Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. The leaf acetone, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa ex Roxb, Andrographis lineata Wallich ex Nees, and Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels were tested for oviposition-deterrent, ovicidal, and repellent activities against Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Diptera: Culicidae). The percentage of effective oviposition repellency of 92.60 , 93.04, 95.20, 88.26, 92.80, 94.01, 95.77, 96.93, and 92.54 at 500 ppm and the lowest repellency of 47.14, 58.00, 56.52, 64.93, 71.09, 66.42, 50.62, 57.62, and 65.73 at 31.25 ppm in acetone, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos, Andrographis lineata, and Cocculus hirsutus, respectively. The oviposition activity index (OAI) value of acetone, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos, Andrographis lineata, and Cocculus hirsutus at 500 ppm were −0.86, −0.87, −0.90, −0.78, −0.87, −0.86, −0.91, −0.94, and −0.86 respectively. The OAI values revealed that the solvent plant extracts have deterrent effect, and they caused a remarkable negative response resulting in oviposition of very few eggs. Mean percent hatchability of the ovicidal activity was observed 24 h after treatment. The percent hatchability was inversely proportional to the concentration of extract and directly proportional to the eggs. Mortality of 100% with ethyl acetate extract of Aegle marmelos, methanol extracts Aegle marmelos, Andrographis lineata, and Cocculus hirsutus were exerted at 1,000 ppm. The maximum repellent activity was observed at 500 ppm in methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos, Andrographis lineata, and ethyl acetate extract of Cocculus hirsutus, and the mean complete protection time ranged from 90 to 120 min with the different extracts tested. These results suggest that the leaf extracts of Aegle marmelos, Andrographis lineata, and Cocculus hirsutus have the potential to be used as an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control of the Anopheles subpictus. Therefore, this study provides first report on the oviposition, ovicidal, and repellent activities against malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus of plant extracts from Southern India.     

Efficacy of larvicidal botanical extracts against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Culex quinquefasciatus</Emphasis> Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

The present study explored the effects of crude leaf acetone, chloroform, hot water, methanol, petroleum ether (60–80°C), and water extracts of Calotropis procera (Ait) R. Br., Canna indica L., Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn., Ipomoea carnea Jacq. spp. fistulosa Choisy, and Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight that were selected for investigating larvicidal potential against second and fourth instar larvae of the laboratory-reared mosquito species, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, in which the major lymphatic filariasis was used. All plant extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects after 24 h of exposure at 1,000 ppm; however, the highest larval mortality was found in leaf acetone, chloroform, methanol, and petroleum ether of C. indica (LC₅₀ = 29.62, 59.18, 40.77, and 44.38 ppm; LC₉₀ = 148.55, 267.87, 165.00, and 171.91 ppm) against second instar larvae (LC₅₀ = 121.88, 118.25, 69.76, and 56.31 ppm; LC₉₀ = 624.35, 573.93, 304.27, and 248.24 ppm) and against fourth instar larvae and acetone, hot water, methanol, and petroleum ether extracts of I. carnea (LC₅₀ = 61.17, 41.07, 41.82, and 39.32 ppm; LC₉₀ = 252.91, 142.67, 423.76, and 176.39 ppm) against second instar larvae (LC₅₀ = 145.37, 58.00, 163.81, and 41.75 ppm; LC₉₀ = 573.30, 181.10, 627.38, and 162.63 ppm) and against fourth instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. These results suggest that the acetone, methanol extracts of C. indica and hot water, petroleum ether extracts of I. carnea have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the major lymphatic filariasis vector, C. quinquefasciatus.     

Differential larvicidal efficacy of four species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitex</Emphasis> against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Culex quinquefasciatus</Emphasis> larvae

The early fourth instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus, reared in the laboratory were used for larvicidal assay with leaf extracts of Vitex negundo, Vitex trifolia, Vitex peduncularis and Vitex altissima. The methanol extracts of the four species possessed varying levels of larvicidal nature. The highest larvicidal activity was found with the extract of V. trifolia (LC₅₀ = 41.41 ppm) followed by V. peduncularis (LC₅₀ = 76.28 ppm), V. altissima (LC₅₀ = 128.04 ppm) and V. negundo (LC₅₀ = 212.57 ppm).     

Evaluation of repellent properties of botanical extracts against Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae)

In recent times, there were considerable efforts made to promote the use of environmentally friendly and biodegradable natural insecticides and repellents, particularly from botanical sources. The present study explored the effects of crude leaf ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa ex Roxb, Andrographis lineata Wallich ex Nees., Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wallich ex Nees., Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels, Eclipta prostrata L., and Tagetes erecta L. on repellent activity against Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles. The maximum repellent activity was observed at 500 ppm in methanol extracts of A. marmelos, ethyl acetate extracts of A. lineata, C. hirsutus, and E. prostrata and the mean complete protection time ranged from 120 to 150 min with the different extracts tested. The ethyl acetate extract of A. lineata showed 100% repellency in 120 min; acetone extracts of A. marmelos and C. hirsutus and methanol extract of T. erecta showed complete protection in 90 min at 250 ppm, respectively. These results suggest that the leaf extracts of A. marmelos, A. lineata, and C. hirsutus have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the C. tritaeniorhynchus. Therefore, this study provides first report on the repellent activity against Japanese encephalitis, C. tritaeniorhynchus of plant extracts from Southern India.     

Efficacy of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichophyton ajelloi</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lagenidium giganteum</Emphasis> metabolites against mosquitoes after flash chromatography

Entomopathogens are significant natural enemies for mosquitoes. We have investigated the adulticidal efficacies of metabolites of Trichophyton ajelloi and Lagenidium giganteum against Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti simultaneously. The T. ajelloi was grown on Sabouraud’s dextrose broth medium at 25 ± 2°C and relative humidity at 75 ± 5% for 15 days. L. giganteum was grown in peptone yeast extract glucose broth at 25 ± 2°C and relative humidity 75 ± 5% for 15 days. The filtrations of metabolites have been made by using Whatman-1 filter paper then with the flash chromatograph. The bioassays were conducted as per the World Health Organization’s methods and protocols (2006). In this significant investigations, the metabolites of T. ajelloi have been found highly susceptible against A. aegypti with LC₉₉-7.24 ml after an exposure time of 24 h with a comparison, the LC₉₉-66 ml was observed against C. quinquefasciatus after exposure of 24 h. Moreover, the L. giganteum metabolites have shown higher pathogenicity against C. quinquefasciatus with LC₉₉-11.3 ml and A. aegypti with LC₉₉-15.49 ml. Although, the efficacy in adults could be achieved with higher concentration can be significant also. Their adulticidal activities in different climatic zones are plausible with metabolites which have better LT values of T. ajelloi.     

Larvicidal potential of medicinal plant extracts against Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae)

Mosquito control is facing a threat due to the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. The acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane, methanol and petroleum ether extracts of leaf, flower and seed of Cassia auriculata L., Leucas aspera (Willd.), Rhinacanthus nasutus KURZ., Solanum torvum Swartz and Vitex negundo Linn. were tested against fourth instar larvae of malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Japanese encephalitis vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae). The larval mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects; however, the highest mortality was found in leaf petroleum ether, flower methanol extracts of C. auriculata, flower methanol extracts of L. aspera and R. nasutus, leaf and seed methanol extracts of S. torvum and leaf hexane extract of V. negundo against the larvae of A. subpictus (LC₅₀ = 44.21, 44.69, 53.16, 41.07, 35.32, 28.90 and 44.40 ppm; LC₉₀ = 187.31, 188.29, 233.18, 142.66, 151.60, 121.05 and 192.11 ppm, respectively) and against the larvae of C. tritaeniorhynchus (LC₅₀ = 69.83, 51.29, 81.24, 71.79, 44.42, 84.47 and 65.35 ppm; LC₉₀ = 335.26, 245.63, 300.45, 361.83, 185.09, 351.41 and 302.42 ppm, respectively). These results suggest that the leaf petroleum ether, flower methanol extracts of C. auriculata, leaf and seed methanol extracts of S. torvum and leaf hexane extract of V. negundo have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the A. subpictus and C. tritaeniorhynchus. This is the first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity of the medicinal plant extracts.     

Larvicidal activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plumeria rubra</Emphasis> plant latex against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes aegypti</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles stephensi</Emphasis>

In the present study activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using Plumeria rubra plant latex against second and fourth larval instar of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi was determined. Range of concentrations of synthesized AgNps (10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.3125 ppm) and aqueous crude latex (1,000, 500, 250, 125, 62.50, 31.25 ppm) were tested against larvae of A. aegypti and A. Stephensi. The synthesized AgNps from P. rubra latex were highly toxic than crude latex extract in both mosquito species. The LC₅₀ values for second and fourth larval instars after 24 h of crude latex exposure were 1.49, 1.82 ppm against A. aegypti and 1.10, 1.74 ppm against A. stephensi respectively. These figures were 181.67, 287.49 ppm against A. aegypti and 143.69, 170.58 ppm against A. stephensi respectively for crude latex extract. The mortality rates were positively correlated with the concentration of AgNPs. The characterization studies of synthesized AgNPs by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Particle size analysis (PSA) and zeta potential confirmed the spherical shape and size (32–200 nm) of silver nanoparticles alongwith stability. Toxicity studies carried out against non-target fish species Poecilia reticulata, the most common organism in the habitats of A. aegypti and A. stephensi showed no toxicity at LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ doses of the AgNPs. This is the first report on mosquito larvicidal activity of latex synthesized nanoparticles.     

Efficacy of botanical extracts against Japanese encephalitis vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of leaf hexane and chloroform extracts of Aegle marmelos, Andrographis lineata, Andrographis paniculata, Cocculus hirsutus, Eclipta prostrata, and Tagetes erecta on repellent, ovicidal, and oviposition-deterrent activities against Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae). The repellent action of the plant extracts tested varied depending on the plant species, part, solvent used in extraction, and the extract dose. The hexane extract of A. paniculata was more effective in exhibiting the repellent action against the mosquito as compared with A. lineata extract. Complete protections for 150 min were found in hexane extract of A. paniculata at 500 ppm against mosquito bites. Mean percent hatchability of the ovicidal activity was observed 24 h after treatment. The percent hatchability was inversely proportional to the concentration of extract and directly proportional to the eggs. No hatchability was observed with hexane, and chloroform extracts of A. lineata, A. paniculata, and hexane extract of T. erecta were exerted at 1,000 ppm. The percentage of effective oviposition repellency were 95.90, 94.75, 95.04, 90.58, 87.93, 87.14, 94.82, 95.71, 92.26, 90.58, 83.35, and 78.16 at 500 ppm, and the lowest repellency was 69.93, 53.06, 64.81, 70.06, 51.82, 54.54, 48.31, 66.71, 68.82, 61.85, 34.84, and 39.53 at 31.25 ppm in hexane and chloroform extracts of A. marmelos, A. lineata, A. paniculata, C. hirsutus, E. prostrata, and T. erecta, respectively. The oviposition activity index values revealed that the solvent plant extracts have deterrent effect, and they caused a remarkable negative response resulting in oviposition of very few eggs. These results clearly reveal that the hexane extracts of A. marmelos and A. paniculata served as a potential repellent, ovicidal, and oviposition deterrent against Japanese encephalitis vector, C. tritaeniorhynchus.     

Larvicidal efficacy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> and bacterial insecticide, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis>, against lymphatic filarial vector<Emphasis Type="Italic">, Culex quinquefasciatus</Emphasis> Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

The present study explored the effects of Jatropha curcas leaf extract and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis larvicidal activity against the lymphatic filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus. Wights were selected for investigating the larvicidal potential against the first to fourth instar larvae of the laboratory-reared mosquito species, C. quinquefasciatus Say, in which the major lymphatic filariasis was used. The medicinal plants were collected from the area around Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. The dried plant materials were powdered by an electric blender. From the powder, 100 g of the plant materials was extracted with 300 ml of organic solvents of methanol for 8 h, using a Soxhlet apparatus, and filtered. The crude plant extracts were evaporated to dryness in a rotary vacuum evaporator. The plant extract showed larvicidal effects after 24 h of exposure; however, the highest larval mortality was found in the leaf extract of methanol J. curcas against the first to fourth instar larvae of values LC₅₀ = 1.200%, 1.290%, 1.358%, and 1.448% and LC₉₀ = 2.094%, 2.323%, 2.444%, and 2.544% and B. thuringiensis israelensis against the first to fourth instar larvae of values LC₅₀ = 9.332%, 9.832%, 10.212%, 10.622% and LC₉₀ = 15.225%, 15.508%, 15.887%, and 15.986% larvae of C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. No mortality was observed in the control. These results suggest methanol extracts of J. curcas and B. thuringiensis israelensis have potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the major lymphatic filarial vector, C. quinquefasciatus.     

Screening for feeding deterrent activity of herbal extracts against the larvae of malaria vector Anopheles subpictus Grassi

This no-choice, laboratory study focuses on the feeding of homogeneous powdered, dried, yeast with different plant extracts on mosquito fourth-instar larvae to determine the effects on their mortality. Screening for antifeedant activity of plant extracts with some known medicinal attributes could lead to the discovery of new agents for vector control. The aim of this study was to investigate the antifeedant activity of crude leaf hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol extracts of Andrographis lineata Wallich ex Nees. (Acanthaceae), Anisomeles malabarica (L.) Sims. (Lamiaceae), Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae), Aristolochia bracteolata Lam. (Aristolochiaceae), Chrysanthemum indium L. (Asteraceae), Datura metal L. (Solanaceae), Eclipta prostrata L. (Asteraceae), and Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. (Fibaceae) against the fourth-instar larvae of Anopheles subpictus Grassi (Diptera:Culicidae). All the crude extracts showed antifeedant activity in a dose-dependent manner. The plant extracts exhibited a significant antifeedant activity after 24 and 48 h of exposure; however, the highest larval mortality was found in leaf ethyl acetate extract of A. malabarica, acetone extract E. prostrata, methanol extract of A. lineata, C. indium, and S. grandiflora after 24 h (LC₅₀ = 2.53, 2.82, 2.31, 2.56, and 2.08 mg/mL; LC₉₀ = 6.40, 8.06, 7.45, 6.98, and 6.20 mg/mL), respectively. The hexane extract of A. lineata, D. metal, methanol extract of A. bracteolata and E. prostrata showed larval mortality after 48 h (LC₅₀ = 3.05, 2.11, 3.00, and 2.18 mg/mL; LC₉₀ = 9.06, 6.22, 8.23, and 5.77 mg/mL), respectively. One hundred percent larval mortality was observed in methanol extract of A. lineata, and C. indium after 24 h and the hexane extract of A. lineata and D. metal after 48 h at 10 mg/100 mL. The methanol extracts of A. lineata and C. indium significantly increased larval mortality in comparison to larvae fed with untreated diet. Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis is widely accepted as a biological pesticide because of its highly specific activity against dipteran insects without adverse effects on other organisms. The feeding deterrent activity of different herbal extracts against the larvae of malaria vector A. subpictus exhibited significantly lower toxicity compare with the bio larvicides, B. thuringiensis. These results suggest that the methanol extract of A. lineata, C. indium, the hexane extract of A. lineata and D. metal have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the medically important vector A. subpictus. These findings corroborate traditional insecticidal application of selected plants and the results can be extended for the control of mosquitoes.     

Laboratory determination of efficacy of indigenous plant extracts for parasites control

The present study was based on assessments of the antiparasitic activities to determine the efficacies of acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane, and methanol dried leaf, flower, and seed extracts of Achyranthes aspera L., Anisomeles malabarica (L.) R. Br., Gloriosa superba L., Psidium guajava L., Ricinus communis L., and Solanum trilobatum L. tested against the larvae of cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae), sheep internal parasite Paramphistomum cervi (Zeder 1790) (Digenea: Paramphistomatidae) at 2,000 ppm and fourth instar larvae of Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae) at 1,000 ppm. All plant extracts showed moderate effects after 24 h of exposure; however, the highest parasite mortality was found in the leaf ethyl acetate extract of A. aspera, leaf methanol extract of A. malabarica, flower methanol extract of G. superba, and leaf methanol extract of R. communis against the larvae of R. microplus (LC₅₀ = 265.33, 95.97, 153.73, and 181.49 ppm; LC₉₀ = 1,130.18, 393.88, 1,794.25, and 1,829.94 ppm); leaf acetone and chloroform of A. malabarica, flower acetone extract of G. superba, and leaf chloroform and methanol of R. communis against the adult of P. cervi (LC₅₀ = 108.07, 106.69, 157.61, 69.44, and 168.24 ppm; LC₉₀ = 521.77, 463.94, 747.02, 256.52, and 809.45 ppm); leaf ethyl acetate extract of A. aspera, leaf chloroform extract of A. malabarica, flower methanol of G. superba, and leaf methanol extract of R. communis against the larvae of A. subpictus (LC₅₀ = 48.83, 135.36, 106.77, and 102.71 ppm; LC₉₀ = 225.36, 527.24, 471.90, and 483.04 ppm); and leaf ethyl acetate extract of A. aspera, leaf chloroform extract of A. malabarica, flower methanol extract of G. superba, and leaf methanol extract of R. communis against the larvae of C. tritaeniorhynchus (LC₅₀ = 68.27, 95.98, 59.51, and 93.94 ppm; LC₉₀ = 306.88, 393.83, 278.99, and 413.27 ppm), respectively. These results suggest that the leaf ethyl acetate extract of A. aspera, leaf acetone and chloroform extract of A. malabarica, flower methanol extract of G. superba, and leaf methanol extract of R. communis have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the R. microplus, P. cervi, A. subpictus, and C. tritaeniorhynchus. Therefore, this study provides the first report on the larvae and adult parasitic activity of crude solvent extracts, indigenous plants consumed by the natives in southern India.     

Adulticidal and repellent properties of indigenous plant extracts against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Culex quinquefasciatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes aegypti</Emphasis> (Diptera: Culicidae)

Several diseases are associated to the mosquito–human interaction. Mosquitoes are the carriers of severe and well-known illnesses such as malaria, arboviral encephalitis, dengue fever, chikunguniya fever, West Nile virus, and yellow fever. These diseases produce significant morbidity and mortality in humans and livestock around the world. The adulticidal and repellent activities of crude hexane, ethyl acetate, benzene, chloroform, and methanol extracts of leaf of Eclipta alba and Andrographis paniculata were assayed for their toxicity against two important vector mosquitoes, viz., Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). The adult mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate adulticide effects; however, the highest adult mortality was found in methanol extract of A. paniculata against the adults of C. quinquefasciatus and A. aegypti with the LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were 149.81, 172.37 ppm and 288.12, 321.01 ppm, respectively. The results of the repellent activity of hexane, ethyl acetate, benzene, chloroform, and methanol extract of E. alba and A. paniculata plants at three different concentrations of 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/cm² were applied on skin of forearm in man and exposed against adult female mosquitoes. In this observation, these two plant crude extracts gave protection against mosquito bites without any allergic reaction to the test person, and also, the repellent activity is dependent on the strength of the plant extracts. These results suggest that the leaf solvent plant extracts have the potential to be used as an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control of mosquitoes. This is the first report on the mosquito adulticidal and repellent activities of the reported E. alba and A. paniculata plants.     

Evaluation of indigenous plant extracts against larvae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Culex quinquefasciatus</Emphasis> Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

This study investigates the larvicidal potential of indigenous plant extracts from commonly used medicinal herbs as an environmentally safe measure to control the filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae). The early fourth-instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus, reared in the laboratory, were used for larvicidal assay with water, hot water, acetone, chloroform, and methanol leaf, stem-bark, and flower extracts of Acacia arabica Willd. Sans, Cedrus deodara Roxb, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Mangifera indica L., Nerium indicum Mill., Nicotiana tabacum Linn., Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre, and Solanum nigrum Linn. All plant extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects after 24 h of exposure at 1,000 ppm; however, the highest larval mortality was found in stem-bark hot water, acetone, and methanol extracts of C. deodara (LC₅₀ = 133.85, 141.60, and 95.19 ppm, LC₉₀ = 583.14, 624.19, and 639.99 ppm) and leaf hot water, acetone, methanol, and chloroform extracts of N. tabacum (LC₅₀ = 76.27, 163.81, 83.38, and 105.85 ppm, LC₉₀ = 334.72, 627.38, 709.51, and 524.39 ppm) against the larvae of C. quinquefasciatus, respectively. This is an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control of lymphatic filariasis vector, C. quinquefasciatus.     

Bioactivity of essential oils of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Zingiber officinalis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Achyranthes aspera</Emphasis> against mosquitoes

Due to the global health problems associated with mosquito-borne diseases, over two million people primarily in the tropical countries are at risk. The widely and commonly used chemical method though effective, has some major disadvantages making insect control practically difficult. In view of the above, it is unavoidable to search for new molecules, which are eco-friendly, cheaper, and safer. The present study deals with evaluation of bioactive potential of two commonly occurring plants against mosquitoes presenting an alternative to the conventional chemical methods. Essential oils extracted by steam distillation from rhizome of Zingiber officinalis and leaf and stem of Achyranthes aspera were evaluated for larvicidal, attractant/repellent, and oviposition attractant/deterrent activity against two mosquito species viz. Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. The highest larvicidal activity, i.e., LC₅₀ = 154 ppm and LC₅₀ = 197 ppm for A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus, respectively was shown by Z. officinalis. This oil also offers 5-h protection at the concentration of 0.5 mg/cm2 from both mosquito species. The highest oviposition deterrence activity was exhibited by A. aspera stem oil, i.e., 100% and 85.71%, in case of A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus, respectively, at the concentration of 0.1%. These results reveal that both these oils have control potential against A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus.     

Studies on effects of indigenous plant extracts on filarial vector Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles

Mosquito control is facing a threat because of the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of leaf ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa ex Roxb (Rutaceae), Andrographis lineata Wallich ex Nees. (Acanthaceae), Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees. (Acanthaceae), Cocculus hirsutus (L.) Diels (Menispermaceae), Eclipta prostrata L. (Asteraceae) and Tagetes erecta L. (Compositae) on ovicidal and oviposition-deterrent activities against Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae). The percentage of egg hatching in methanol extracts of Andrographis lineata, Cocculus hirsutus and T. erecta were 16, 12 and 16 exerted at 500 ppm, respectively. The percentage of effective oviposition repellency was 97.77 at 500 ppm and the lowest repellency was 42.06 at 31.25 ppm in methanol and acetone extracts of Andrographis lineata and Andrographis paniculata, respectively. The oviposition activity index values revealed that the solvent plant extracts have deterrent effect, and they caused a remarkable negative response resulting in oviposition of very few eggs. These results suggest that the leaf solvent plant extracts have the potential to be used as an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control of the Culex tritaeniorhynchus.     

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Nelumbo nucifera leaf extract and its larvicidal activity against malaria and filariasis vectors

The aim of this study was to investigate the larvicidal potential of the hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol, and aqueous leaf extracts of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nymphaeaceae) and synthesized silver nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract against fourth instar larvae of Anopheles subpictus Grassi and Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae). Nanoparticles are being used in many commercial applications. It was found that aqueous silver ions can be reduced by aqueous extract of plant parts to generate extremely stable silver nanoparticles in water. The results recorded from UV–vis spectrum, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared support the biosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles. Larvae were exposed to varying concentrations of plant extracts and synthesized silver nanoparticles for 24 h. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects; however, the maximum efficacy was observed in crude methanol, aqueous, and synthesized silver nanoparticles against the larvae of A. subpictus (LC₅₀ = 8.89, 11.82, and 0.69 ppm; LC₉₀ = 28.65, 36.06, and 2.15 ppm) and against the larvae of C. quinquefasciatus (LC₅₀ = 9.51, 13.65, and 1.10 ppm; LC₉₀ = 28.13, 35.83, and 3.59 ppm), respectively. These results suggest that the leaf methanol, aqueous extracts of N. nucifera, and green synthesis of silver nanoparticles have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the A. subpictus and C. quinquefasciatus. This is the first report on the mosquito larvicidal activity of the plant extracts and synthesized nanoparticles.     

Isolation and identification of bioactive compounds in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Andrographis paniculata</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chuanxinlian</Emphasis>)

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Acanthaceae) is a medicinal plant used in many countries. Its major constituents are diterpenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols. Among the single compounds extracted from A. paniculata, andrographolide is the major one in terms of bioactive properties and abundance. Among the andrographolide analogues, 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide is immunostimulatory, anti-infective and anti-atherosclerotic; neoandrographolide is anti-inflammatory, anti-infective and anti-hepatotoxic; 14-deoxyandrographolide is immunomodulatory and anti-atherosclerotic. Among the less abundant compounds from A. paniculata, andrograpanin is both anti-inflammatory and anti-infective; 14-deoxy-14,15-dehydroandrographolide is anti-inflammatory; isoandrographolide, 3,19-isopropylideneandrographolide and 14-acetylandrographolide are tumor suppressive; arabinogalactan proteins are anti-hepatotoxic. The four flavonoids from A. paniculata, namely 7-O-methylwogonin, apigenin, onysilin and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid are anti-atherosclerotic.