Abstract

Phytochemical analysis and mosquito larvicidal effect of leaf extracts of Phyllanthus niruri was studied against malaria, filaria and dengue vectors of Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. The phytochemical analysis was assessed by phytochemical screening tests. The larvicidal activity of Phyllanthus niruri leaves extract was tested against mosquito larvae following the WHO protocol. The mortality was observed at 24h after treatment and the data were subjected to probit analysis to determine the lethal concentration (LC50 and LC90) to kill 50 and 90 percent of the treated larvae of the tested species. The study has revealed the presence of bioactive chemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycosides and also coumorins in the leaves extract. The results showed that the Phyllanthus niruri leaves extract was highly effective against the larvae of Anopheles stephensi (LC50 = 4.46 ppm and LC90 = 9.25 ppm) and against Aedes aegypti (LC50 = 11.92 ppm and LC90 = 14.60 ppm). The study results suggested that Phyllanthus niruri leaves can be applied as an ideal potential larvicide against Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. This is an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control of the malaria, filarial and dengue vectors.

Keywords

Phyllanthus niruri, Malaria, Filarial, Dengue, Mosquito vectors.

Received on 09/03/2018, Accepted on 23/04/2018, Published on 12/04/2018