title: Larvicidal activity of saponin containing extracts and fractions of fruit mesocarp of Balanites aegyptiaca.
abstract: Chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol extracts of fruit mesocarp of Balanites aegyptiaca and five fractions from the methanol extract were tested against the Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae. All extracts showed larvicidal effects however the highest larval mortality was found in methanol extract. One fraction obtained from the silica gel column chromatography of the latter was found most effective for larval mortality. This fraction also interfered with adult emergence. A concentration of 0.0014% (w/v) of this active fraction showed inhibition of the 50% of the test larval population from emerging adults (EC(50)). The analysis of total saponin content of these tested extracts and fractions revealed a strong correlation between saponin content and larval mortality.
authors.affiliation: The Phyto-lipid Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, the Institutes for Applied Research, Ben-Gurioun University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. wiesman@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wiesman
authors.forename: Bishnu P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chapagain
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D032430:Balanites; D005638:Fruit; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D009032:Mosquito Control; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D010936:Plant Extracts