title: Larvicidal Activity of Steroidal Saponins from Dracaena arborea on Aedes albopictus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Development of new and improved mosquito control methods, that are economically sustainable and effective, is a critical requirement in the management of vector-borne epidemic diseases. Aedes albopictus is one of the main vectors of various important pathogens in the tropics, which now have the potential to also spread in temperate regions, owing to the environmental and climate changes in act.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report about the isolation of steroidal saponins from Dracaena arborea by fractionation followed by column separation. The obtained fractions and/or pure compounds were tested by biological essays for their insecticidal activity against A. albopictus larvae.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Various compounds were found to exert larvicidal effects. In specific, spiroconazole A demonstrated the best insecticidal activity, showing LT50 value of 57.23 hours at 25 ppm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We finally discuss about the value of this finding in the context of the present strategies of Integrated Mosquito Management.
authors.forename: Prosper C B
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Nya
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology and Agro- Industry Division of ENEA, C.R. Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvitti
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biology of Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Lamberto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tomassini
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes; D000818:Animals; D031409:Dracaena; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D012503:Saponins