Vol. 7, Issue 4, Part A (2020)

Author(s): JA Wahedi, SM Pukuma, JW Gambu, OS Elkanah, P Japhet and AT Ande

Abstract: Azadirachta indica extracts (ethanol and aqueous) were tested against the 2^nd and 3^rd instar larvae of Anopheles mosquitoes. Anopheles mosquito were collected from possible breeding sites such as the puddles, tires tracks, rice fields, gutters etc. around Mubi town. Probit analysis was used to determine the lethal concentration of the extracts at 50% and 95% i.e. LC₅₀ and LC₉₅, respectively. The result of the laboratory bioassay revealed that A. indica extracts at 50, 100 and 200 mg/ml significantly (P>0.05) controlled larval Anopheles mosquitoes in Mubi. However, ethanol extract proved to be more potent than aqueous extract as 100% mortality was recorded after 24 hours in all its concentrations, compared to aqueous extract, where mortality was spread between 24 hours and 48 hours. The LC₅₀ and LC₉₅ further proved the superiority of ethanol extract over aqueous extract. LC₅₀ (-12.309) and LC₉₅ (3.589) calculated for ethanol extract was significantly lower compared to LC₅₀ (2.24E+08) and LC₉₅ (1.08E+09) recorded for aqueous extract. Therefore, A. indica is a promising phytochemical which can be used sustainably as an alternative for chemical insecticide in controlling mosquitoes.