Larvicidal Activities and Synergistic Effects of Essential Oils against Anopheles funestus and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Kisumu, Kenya

Abstract

Rapid development of resistance in vector mosquitoes to synthetic insecticides is a major challenge for malaria control. The use of plant-derived essential oils (EOs) is an attractive strategy in controlling mosquito populations because they are environmentally safe and may have a lower chance of developing resistance. This study assessed the larvicidal activities of EOs from Lantana camara, Lippia multiflora, Lippia chevalieri, and Cymbopogon schoenanthus against Anopheles funestus and Culex quinquefasciatus. The 3rd–4th instar larvae were tested using a World Health Organization (WHO)-modified protocol to evaluate larval mortality 24 h after exposure to EOs and their binary combinations. Culex quinquefasciatus larvae were more susceptible to EOs than An. funestus larvae. For Cx. quinquefasciatus, the lethal concentrations at 50% mortality (LC50s) of EOs from C. schoenanthus, L. multiflora, L. camara, and L. chevalieri were 23.32, 27.24, 38.54, and 54.11 ppm, respectively; whereas for An. funestus, the EO LC50s were 120.5, 67.5, 49.21, and 105.74 ppm, respectively. Synergistic effects were observed using EOs from C. schoenanthus + L. multiflora (LC50 = 44.05 ppm) on An. funestus, while L. camara + L. chevalieri (LC50 = 33.16 ppm), L. chevalieri + C. schoenanthus (LC50 = 12.08 ppm), and L. multiflora + L. chevalieri (LC50 = 20.61 ppm) were synergistic for Cx. quinquefasciatus. These results indicate the potential of EOs derived from local plants and their binary combinations as botanical larvicides. The EOs could be used as future ecofriendly agents to control these vectors.

Insight into the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial activities of Amomum subulatum and Amomum xanthioides: an in vitro and in silico study

“…Elemol oil isolated from essential oils of Rhynchanthus beesianus rhizomes exhibited insecticidal activities against the adults of Liposcelis entomophila and Tribolium castaneum insects ( Pan et al., 2022 ). Essential oils of Cymbopogon schoenanthus contained 22.8% elemol oil and exhibited larvicidal effects against Anopheles funestus and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae with lethal concentrations of 120.5 and 23.32 ppm, respectively ( Wangrawa et al., 2022 ). In addition, elemol was the most abundant constituent (13.54%) in the essential oils of Drimys winteri , which showed insecticidal activity against the pests Acanthoscelides obtectus and Aegorhinus superciliosus ( Tampe et al., 2020 ).…”

Advances in Discoveries of Plant Phytochemicals

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Comparative study of three herbal formulations against dengue vectors Aedes aegypti

“…Therefore, there is a serious desire to find effective, eco-friendly alternative methods to control vectors and pathogens. More recently, natural plant extracts with larvicidal properties have received much attention as a promising alternative for vector control ( Al-Rashidi et al, 2022 , Al-Zahrani Mohamd et al, 2019 , Alyaha et al, 2018 , Alyahya et al, 2021 , Barnawi et al, 2019 , Bosly, 2022 , Dias and Moraes, 2014 , El-Akhal et al, 2021 , Fazal et al, 2013 , Mahyoub, 2018 , Mahyoub, 2021 , Mendes et al, 2017 , Pavela, 2009 , Wangrawa et al, 2022 ).…”