Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part A (2017)

Author(s): VD Mendhulkar, LA Yeragi and Hemanth Kumar

Abstract: The present work deals with the studies of latex of mangrove plant Excoecaria agallocha to evaluate the larvicidal efficacy against three mosquito species i.e. Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito and one housefly species Musca domestica. The latex of the Excoecaria agallocha was collected from the Mithbav creek and larvicidal tests were performed in National Malaria Institute, Champal, Panji, and Goa. The tests were performed by WHO standard method-15. Total of nine aqueous concentrations in the range of 1.17 to 300 ppm of the plant latex were tested against the third stage larvae of Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. In trial experiment Aedes aegypti indicated resistance to the doses of latex solution two higher doses were introduced and the range of 4.69 to 1200 ppm were used for the treatment Aedes aegypti larvae. Mortality rate was observed and recorded after 24 hrs. The third instar larvae of Musca domestica was treated with the higher latex concentrations in the ranging from 2000 to 20000 ppm along with control. For Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi the highest mortality observed was 100 % in 300 ppm latex concentration. In case of Aedes aegypti 1200 ppm latex concentration showed 100% mortality. For Musca domestica larvae, the highest 100 % mortality was recorded in 18000 ppm and above concentration. Our analysis revealed that the latex of the plant potent enough to induce 100% mortality in all studied mosquito larvae and house fly. The latex of Excoecaria agallocha possesses promising larvicidal activities against the studied mosquito species of malaria, dengue and filarial. Further photochemical analysis of the latex with respect to its active components will add a high value to these findings.

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