Larvicidal efficacy of indigenous plant Ficus pumila leaves extract against dengue vector Aedes aegypti

D Merin Emerald; S Viveka

Larvicidal efficacy of indigenous plant Ficus pumila leaves extract against dengue vector Aedes aegypti

Authors
D Merin Emerald, S Viveka

Abstract
Aedes aegypti, dengue fever mosquito, is primarily associated with the transmission of dengue and chikungunya in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The present investigations were carried out to assess the larvicidal efficiency of indigenous plant against A. aegypti. The different ppm (20 – 100) of ethanol extract prepared from the leaf of Ficus pumila was screened for their larvicidal activity against early fourth instars of dengue vector. The extracts which could cause 80–100% mortality were further investigated for their efficacy. The preliminary screening established the efficacy of ethanol extract. Further investigations revealed the highest concentration has significant activity was observed in 48hrs. The lethal concentration 50 (LC₅₀) is the concentration of a chemical that will kill 50 percent of the larvae. The lethal concentration (50%) was 97.37ppm for 12hr, 52.07ppm for 24hrs and 31.13ppm for 48hrs. The present investigations suggest the possible use of A. aspera as an ideal ecofriendly, larvicidal agent for the control of dengue vector, Ae. aegypti. Future studies are, however, required to explore and identify the bioactive component involved and its mode of action.

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