title: Larvicidal potential of Asteraceae family endophytic actinomycetes against Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae.
abstract: Pakistan is blessed with plants of Asteraceae family with known medicinal background used for centuries by Hakims (traditional physicians). Keeping in mind the background of their anti-larval potential, a total of 21 endophytic actinomycetes were isolated from four Asteraceae plants and screened against the first and fourth instar stages of Culex quinquefasciatus Say mosquito larvae. Of the 21 isolates, 6 of them gave strong larvicidal activity (80-100% mortality) in the screening results and 4 isolates gave a potent larvicidal activity (100% mortality) at the fourth instar stage. These isolates belonged to different species within the actinomycetes group, namely Streptomyces albovinaceus and Streptomyces badius. This communication reports the larvicidal potential of endophytic actinomycetes residing within the native Asteraceae plants in Pakistan. The study suggests further exploration through large-scale productions leading to the identification of the larvicidal compounds.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of the Punjab , Quaid-e-Azam Campus, 54590 Lahore , Punjab , Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tanvir
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sajid
authors.forename: Shahida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasnain
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D003465:Culex / Q000187:drug effects*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects*; D010154:Pakistan; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides
keywords: Asteraceae; Culex quinquefasciatus Say; actinomycetes; endophytes; larvicidal