Evaluation of larvicidal efficacy of Ricinus communis (Castor) and synthesized green silver nanoparticles against Aedes aegypti L.

Abstract

Aedes mosquitoes are the most important group of vectors that transmit pathogens, including arboviruses, and cause human diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika virus, and Chikungunya. Biosynthesis and the use of green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is a vital step to identify reliable and eco-friendly controls for these vectors. In this study, Aedes ( Ae .) aegypti larvae (2nd and 3rd instar) were exposed to leaf extracts of Ricinus communis (Castor) and AgNPs synthesized from the extract to evaluate their larvicidal potential. Synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XRD). Ae. aegypti larvae were treated with different concentrations (50–250 ppm) of the leaf extract and synthesized AgNPs. There were five replicates per treatment, in addition to a positive (temephos) and negative control (dechlorinated water). Mortality was recorded after 12, 24, 36, and 48 h and the data were subjected to Probit analysis. The nanoparticles were more toxic (LC 50 = 46.22 ppm and LC 90 = 85.30 ppm) than the plant extract (106.24 and 175.73 ppm, respectively). The leaf extracts of Ricinus communis were subjected to HPLC analysis to identify their chemical constituents. This study suggests that plant extracts and synthesized nanoparticles are excellent alternatives to hazardous chemical pesticides used to control vector mosquitoes. This is a potentially useful technique that can reduce aquatic toxicity from insecticide use.

Phytochemical Constituents and Toxicity of the Ethanol Extract of Ricinus communis (L.) in Drosophila melanogaster

“…The findings showed that R. communis extract strongly affected mortality in the second instar larvae of D. melanogaster fruit fly. Previous studies have demonstrated that R. communis leaf extract was highly effective in killing the third instar larvae of Aedes albopictus with LC 50 and LC 90 values of 149.58 ppm and 268.93ppm, respectively [21]. In a study by Phowichit et al [22] with the aim of evaluating the insecticidal activity of the leaf extract of Jatropha gossypifolia (L.) -a species of plant in the Castoraceae family, against S. litura and the activity of detoxifying enzymes.…”

Identification of locally isolated entomopathogenic Fusarium species from the soil of Changa Manga Forest, Pakistan and evaluation of their larvicidal efficacy against Aedes aegypti

“…The data on the efficacy were subjected to probit analysis (Finney, 1971;Waris et al, 2020) and LC 50 values were calculated using SPSS version 16.0.…”

Formulation of Clitoria ternatea Leaves-mediated Silver Nanoparticles to Control Aedes aegypti Larvae

“…8,28 Several reports have recommended the green synthesis of nanocomposites as a control agent of Ae. aegypti using different parts of different plants; Ricinus communis leaves 39 ; Solanum mammosum fruits 40 ; Chomelia asiatica leaves 41 , Catharanthus roseus roots 42 , Holarrhena antidysenterica bark 43 , to name a few. The nanocomposites made from C. ternatea leaves have yet to be tested as a mosquito control agent.…”