title: Larvicidal potential of essential oils against Musca domestica and Anopheles stephensi.
abstract: The larvicidal activity of Mentha piperita, Cymbopogan citratus (lemongrass), Eucalyptus globulus and Citrus sinensis (orange) essential oils and their combinations was evaluated against Musca domestica (housefly) and Anopheles stephensi (mosquitoes) through contact toxicity assay. Among all the tested essential oils/combinations, Me. piperita was found to be the most effective larvicidal agent against Mu. domestica and An. stephensi with LC50 values of 0.66 μl/cm(2) and 44.66 ppm, respectively, after 48 h. The results clearly highlighted that the addition of mentha oil to other oils (1:1 ratio) improved their larvicidal activity. The order of effectiveness of essential oils/combinations indicated that the pattern for An. stephensi follows the trend as mentha > mentha + lemongrass > lemongrass > mentha + eucalyptus > eucalyptus > mentha + orange > orange and for Mu. domestica as mentha > mentha + lemongrass > lemongrass > mentha + orange > orange > mentha + eucalyptus > eucalyptus. The images obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis indicated the toxic effect of Me. piperita as the treated larvae were observed to be dehydrated and deformed. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of tested essential oils/combinations against the larval stages of Mu. domestica and An. stephensi and has the potential for development of botanical formulations.
authors.affiliation: Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Applied Microbiology Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India. anushree@rdat.iitd.ac.in.
authors.forename: Anushree
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Laboratory, Centre for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Satyawati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Environmental Epidemiology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dhiman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000187:drug effects*; D032084:Citrus sinensis / Q000737:chemistry; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000737:chemistry; D006793:Houseflies / Q000187:drug effects*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D036142:Mentha piperita / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils
keywords: Anopheles stephensi; Citrus sinensis; Cymbopogan citratus; Eucalyptus globulus; Larvae; Mentha piperita; Musca domestica