Autor(es): Ranaweera, S. S.

Resumo: Screening of plants of Sri Lanka for mosquito-larvicidal activity, revealed that 18 plant species out of 53 tested were lethal to Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Methanol extracts of Camellia sinensis, methanol and petroleum ether extracts of Acorus calamus and petroleum ether extracts of Cymbopogon nardus, Languas galanga, Canarium zeylanicum and Curcuma domestica displayed significant mosquito-larvicidal activity (LC sub(50) < 10.0 mg/l) against late 3rd instar Culex larvae. High mosquito-larvicidal activity was observed in the steam distillate of Acorus calamus (3.6-7.7 mg/l) against late 3rd instar mosquito larvae of C. quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles tessellatus and Anopheles subpictus. The essential oil of C. nardus (Ceylon citronella) too displayed a significant activity (6.3 mg/l) against C. quinquefasciatus and lesser activity against A. aegypti (9.3 mg/l). Petroleum ether extract of the rhizome of L. galanga was similarly effective against C. quinquefasciatus (8.3 mg/l) and A. albopictus (9.3 mg/l). The essential oil of C. domestica had high larvicidal activity (4.5 mg/l) against Anopheles culicifacies which was resistant to other plant extracts. The results suggest that potent mosquito-larvicidal compounds may be isolated from A. calamus, C. nardus and C. domestica.

Palavras-Chave: Metabolites; Insecticides; Pest control; Toxicity tests; Insect larvae; Toxicity testing; Essential oils; Larvicides; Plantae; Culicidae

Imprenta: Journal of the National Science Council of Sri Lanka, v. 24, n. 2, p. 63-70, 1996.

Descritores: Aedes aegypti - Larvicide

Data de publicação: 1996

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