Biochemical evidence of efficacy of potash alum for the control of dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus)

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya in India and other South East Asian countries, and novel insecticides for vector control are urgently needed. In the present investigation, efficacy of potash alum, a traditionally known double salt in Indian and Chinese medicine system, was tested against the larvae of dengue vector, A. aegypti. LC(50,) LC(90) and LC(99) values were recorded for various instar larvae where I instar larvae were found to be the most susceptible and IV instar larvae as the least susceptible one. The LC(50) values of crude and standard potash alum of various instar larvae ranged between 15.29 and 48.53 ppm and 20.50-65.10 ppm, respectively. Biochemical changes were also evidenced in IV instar A. aegypti larvae following a sublethal exposure for 24 h in the levels of various nutrient reserves and primary metabolites such as sugar, glycogen, lipids and proteins suggesting possible mode of action responsible for larval mortality. Sugar and glycogen concentrations were measured as 24.6 and 10.67 μg per five larvae in controls which were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by 32.11-93.98% and 39.26-94.47%, respectively, in larvae treated with crude alum. In controls, protein and lipid content were recorded as 210.74 and 94.71 μg per five larvae which dropped up to 26.53% and 25.5%, respectively, in larvae following treatment with crude alum. Moreover, drastic changes were also recorded for DNA content with 25.39-44.17% decrease in crude alum-treated larvae. It is evident from these results that potash alum, a fairly cheaper and readily available ecofriendly compound could be recommended as a potential chemical larvicide against dengue vector at mosquito breeding sites in the vicinity of human dwellings.

Study of the Toxic Effect of Chemical Pesticide Actellic 50EC Against <i>Culiseta Longiareolata</i> Mosquito Larvae

“…longiareolata larvae with methoxyfenozide (Draouet et al, 2020), and larval treatment with Foenilucum vulgare oil extracts (Keffous and Aissaoui, 2023). A similar reduction in these energy reserves has been observed in previous studies on different types of stressors: environmental (Muturi et al, 2011), nutritional or botanical (Vantaux et al, 2016), and chemical stressors (Preet and Sneha, 2011). The depletion of this biochemical component after treatment is due to the stress induced following exposure to an insecticide (Sancho et al, 1998), resulting in alteration in synthesis (Klowden, 2007), hormonal dysfunction controlling lipid metabolism, the use of this metabolic reserve (Sak et al, 2006), and increased lipolysis to provide energy (Lohar and Wright, 1993).…”

“…Various studies have indicated that exposure to an organism to the xenobiotic product can modify the synthesis of certain proteins (biotransformation enzymes, stress proteins) (Curtis et al, 2010). Proteins play a crucial role in the development, growth, and accomplishment of vital activities of insects, as they are essential for enzymes that carry out the cascades of metabolic activities in organisms (Preet and Sneha, 2011). Proteins, such as chitin production and cuticle development, play a crucial role in insect metamorphosis.…”

The Research of Inhibition Mechanism and the Application on <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> of 5% Potash Alum Water Solution

“…In the present study, potash alum, an established medicinal compound in Indian and Chinese medicinal system, has been proved for the first time as a potent larvicide against the artificial container-breeding mosquito species [7] . Potash alum is well known as a chelator, which coagulates salts in water.…”

“…It is a double sulphate of aluminium which is very frequently used topically and internally in traditional systems of medicine including Ayurveda, where it is called Phitkari or Saurashtri, and traditional Chinese medicine, where it is called Ming fan. Previously, potash alum has been tested for its larvicidal efficacy against Anopheles stephensi [6,7] . But, potash alum applied to the prevention and control of different plant diseases has not been reported before.…”