Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the larvicidal and adulticidal activity of various extracts of Anamirta cocculus (A. cocculus) (Linn.) seeds against dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti). Methods: The endosperms were removed from the seeds of A. cocculus and were extracted with petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, acetone and aqueous solvents by using Soxhlet apparatus for organic solvents and cold extraction procedure for aqueous solvent. Extracts were evaluated further for the determination of 24 h LC 50, LC90 and LC99 values by probit analysis using SPSS 16 package. Results: All the tested seed extracts of A. cocculus showed larvicidal and adulticidal effects after 24 h of exposure against Ae. aegypti. Petroleum ether extract was the most potential extract with LC 50, LC 90, LC 99 values of 56.731, 87.908, 127.474 and 140.161, 178.285, 214.713 mg/L, respectively against larvae and adults of Ae. aegypti. The second effective mosquitocidal extract was aqueous extract with LC 50 values of 57.726 mg/L and 141.930 mg/L against larvae and adult mosquitoes respectively followed by benzene, chloroform and acetone extracts. Conclusions: Present study reveals that A. cocculus has considerable potentiality for dengue vector control. This potency could be exploited for the development of safer and effective botanical mosquitocidal/insecticidal tool for the management of Ae. aegypti.

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