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Larvicidal and repellent potential of Moringa oleifera against malarial vector, Anopheles stephensi Liston (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Prabhu K, Murugan K, Nareshkumar A, Ramasubramanian N, Bragadeeswaran S
Number of views: 343
Objective: To evaluate the larvicidal and pupicidal potential of the methanolic extracts from
Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) plant seeds against malarial vector Anopheles stephensi (A. stephensi)
mosquitoes at different concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm). Methods: M. oleifera was
collected from the area of around Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. The dried plant materials
were powdered by an electrical blender. From each sample, 100 g of the plant material were
extracted with 300 mL of methanol for 8 h in a Soxhlet apparatus. The extracts were evaporated to
dryness in rotary vacuum evaporator to yield 122 mg and 110 mg of dark greenish material (residue)
from Arcang amara and Ocimum basilicum, respectively. One gram of the each plant residue was
dissolved separately in 100 mL of acetone (stock solution) from which different concentrations,
i.e., 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm were prepared. Results: Larvicidal activity of M. oleifera exhibited
in the first to fourth instar larvae of the A. stephensi, and the LC50 and LC90 values were 57.79 ppm
and 125.93 ppm for the first instar, 63.90 ppm and 133.07 ppm for the second instar, 72.45 ppm
and 139.82 ppm for the third instar, 78.93 ppm and 143.20 ppm for the fourth instar, respectively.
During the pupal stage the methanolic extract of M. oleifera showed that the LC50 and LC90 values
were 67.77 ppm and 141.00 ppm, respectively. Conclusions: The present study indicates that
the phytochemicals derived from M. oleifera seeds extracts are effective mosquito vector control
agents and the plant extracts may be used for further integrated pest management programs.