Vol. 5, Issue 5, Part B (2018)

Author(s): Samivel Kanthammal, Arulsamy Jebanesan, Kalimuthu Kovendan, Jayapal Subramaniam and Mayakrishnan Vijay

Abstract: In the present study, the mosquito ovicidal, larvicidal, adulticidal activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using Syzygium cumini seed extract against three important adult female mosquitoes of Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus was determined. The results were recorded from UV–visible spectroscopy; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray Vector control methods involving use of chemical insecticides are becoming less effective due to the development of insecticides resistance, biological magnification of toxic substances through the food chain, and adverse effects on environmental quality including human health. Today, nanotechnology is a promising research domain which has a wide ranging application in vector control programs. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction and dynamic light scattering analysis were carried out. AgNPs were highly effective against the larvae of An. stephensi (LC₅₀ = 14.58 µg/ml), Ae. aegypti (LC₅₀ = 16.45 µg/ml) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (LC₅₀ = 18.83 µg/ml), respectively. Combined treatments testing S. cumini with AgNPs were also effective against An. stephensi (LC₅₀ = 35.51 µg/ml), Ae. aegypti (LC₅₀ = 47.94 gµ/ml) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (LC₅₀ = 61.79 µg/ml). Overall, this study suggests that the synthesized AgNPs can be a rapid, environmentally safer bio-pesticide to be used in synergy with S. cumini to control mosquito vectors.

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