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Larvicidal efficacy of five cucurbitaceous plant leaf extracts against mosquito species

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Abstract

Larvicidal activity of crude hexane, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, acetone, and methanol extracts of the leaf of five species of cucurbitaceous plants, Citrullus colocynthis, Coccinia indica, Cucumis sativus, Momordica charantia, and Trichosanthes anguina, were tested against the early fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L. and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae). The larval mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects; however, the highest larval mortality was found in petroleum ether extract of C. colocynthis, methanol extracts of C. indica, C. sativus, M. charantia, and acetone extract of T. anguina against the larvae of A. aegypti (LC50 = 74.57, 309.46, 492.73, 199.14, and 554.20 ppm) and against C. quinquefasciatus (LC50 = 88.24, 377.69, 623.80, 207.61, and 842.34 ppm), respectively. The petroleum ether extract of C. colocynthis and methanol extract of M. charantia were more effective than the other extracts. This is an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of the dengue vector, A. aegypti, and the lymphatic filariasis vector, C. quinquefasciatus.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to C. Abdul Hakeem College Management, Prof. U. Peer, Principal, and Dr. Ahmed Najib, HOD of Zoology Department, for their help and suggestion. We wish to thank the Principal and HOD of Zoology Department, Loyola College, Chennai for providing necessary facilities for our experimental work. AR is indebted to University Grants Commission, New Delhi for award of fellowship.

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  1. Unit of Bioactive Natural Products, Department of Zoology, C. Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam, 632 509, India

    A. Abdul Rahuman

  2. Department of Zoology, Loyola College, Chennai, 600 032, India

    P. Venkatesan

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  1. A. Abdul Rahuman
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Rahuman, A.A., Venkatesan, P. Larvicidal efficacy of five cucurbitaceous plant leaf extracts against mosquito species. Parasitol Res 103, 133–139 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-0940-5

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