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Title: Mosquito ovicidal properties of Ageratina adenophora (Family: Asteraceae) against filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Author
item RAJESWARY, M - Annamalai University Of India
item GOVINDARAJAN, M - Annamalai University Of India
item MURUGAN, K - Bharathiar University
item HWANG, JIANG-SHIOU - National Taiwan Ocean University
item Barnard, Donald
item AMSATH, A - Indian Institute Of Science
item VEERAKUMAR, K - Annamalai University Of India
item MUTHUKUMARAN, U - Annamalai University Of India

Submitted to: International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2014
Publication Date: 6/19/2014
Citation: Rajeswary, M., Govindarajan, M., Murugan, K., Hwang, J., Barnard, D.R., Amsath, A., Veerakumar, K., Muthukumaran, U. 2014. Mosquito ovicidal properties of Ageratina adenophora (Family: Asteraceae) against filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology. 2(2)182-186.

Interpretive Summary: Lymphatic filariasis (transmitted by the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus) is widely distributed in the tropics. Nearly 120 million people worldwide are infected with the filariasis parasite and 44 million of these manifest common chronic signs of the disease (e.g., elephantiasis). In this study, Indian, Chinese, and ARS scientists studied the ovicidal (egg-killing) effects of chemical extracts from the leaves of eupator, a plant in the sunflower family. Maximum egg-killing effect was observed for the methanol extract of eupator leaves, which caused death in 100% of the mosquito eggs when used at a concentration of 300 parts per million. This is the first report of mosquito ovicidal activity for extracts of eupator against Culex quinquefasciatis and suggests these extracts may be useful in an eco-friendly control program for filariasis-transmitting mosquitoes.

Technical Abstract: Mosquito-borne diseases with an economic impact create loss in commercial and labor outputs, particularly in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. Mosquito control is facing a threat because of the emergence of resistance to synthetic insecticides. Extracts from plants may be alternative sources of mosquito control agents because they constitute a rich source of bioactive compounds that are biodegradable into nontoxic products and potentially suitable for use to control mosquitoes. Insecticides of botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. In view of the recently increased interest in developing plant origin insecticides as an alternative to chemical insecticide, this study was undertaken to assess the ovicidal potential of the crude hexane, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol solvent extracts from the medicinal plant Ageratina adenophora (A. adenophora) against the filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) (Diptera: Culicidae). Ovicidal activity was determined against Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquito to various concentrations ranging from 75-450 mg/L under the laboratory conditions. All the five solvents extracts showed moderate ovicidal activity; however, the methanol extract showed the highest ovicidal activity. One hundred percent mortality was observed at 375 mg/L. These results suggest that the plant extracts have the potential to be used as an ideal eco-friendly approach for the control of mosquitoes. This study provides first report on the mosquito ovicidal activity of A. adenophora plant extracts against filariasis vector, Cx. quinquefasciatus.