Larvicide potential of genus Croton L. (Euphorbiaceae) in biological control of Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

The reemerging diseases caused by Aedes aegypti are one of the main public health problems in the world. The control of mosquitoes using larvicidal compounds from products of plant origin is an excellent alternative. This study aims to evaluate the larvicidal potential of fractions in hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and hydromethanol from the ethanolic leaf extract of two species of the genus Croton L. (Euphorbiaceae) against larval forms of A. aegypti, as an alternative tool to control this vector. Dry leaves of Croton betaceus Baill. and Croton lundianus (Didr.) Müll. Arg. were used for biological tests. The compounds were extracted with ethanol (99.8%). The ethanolic extracts of the leaves were suspended in a methanol / water solution and were successively subjected to the liquid-liquid division process with solvents of different polarities: hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate, giving rise to the four fractions. Larvicidal tests were performed with the ethanol extract and fractions resulting from the partition. In the study, the crude extract and the fractions showed larvicidal potential, being hexane fraction the one with greatest activity. Mortality in C. betaceus fractions was up to 40%. Croton lundianus presented mortality of up to 93.33% of the larvae submitted to the test. Data analysis showed larvicidal activity in the crude extract and fractions. The hexane fraction was more effective, especially in C. lundianus.

Potencial citotóxico, genotóxico e mutagênico de frações do extrato de Cróton L. (Euphorbiaceae)

“…Pesquisas realizadas com plantas medicinais comprovam efeitos benéficos de seu uso, recentemente foi demonstrado também o seu potencial larvicida de Cróton betaceus e Cróton lundianus em formas larvais de Aedes aegypti (Silva, et al, 2020). No entanto, estudos insuficientes sobre os efeitos adversos das plantas podem levar a sérios danos.…”

“…Sua utilização inclui tratamentos para o câncer, constipação, diabetes, problemas digestivos, disenteria, febre, hipertensão, inflamação, malária, (Salatino et al, 2007). Para as espécies Cróton betaceus e C. lundianus, estudos evidenciam ainda o potencial larvicida dos extratos foliares (Silva, et al, 2020).…”