title: Fabrication of highly effective mosquito nanolarvicides using an Asian plant of ethno-pharmacological interest, Priyangu (Aglaia elaeagnoidea): toxicity on non-target mosquito natural enemies.
abstract: Mosquitoes threaten the lives of humans, livestock, pets and wildlife around the globe, due to their ability to vector devastating diseases. Aglaia elaeagnoidea, commonly known as Priyangu, is widely employed in Asian traditional medicine and pest control. Medicinal activities include anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancer, and anesthetic actions. Flavaglines, six cyclopenta[b]benzofurans, a cyclopenta[bc]benzopyran, a benzo[b]oxepine, and an aromatic butyrolactone showed antifungal properties, and aglaroxin A and rocaglamide were effective to control moth pests. Here, we determined the larvicidal action of A. elaeagnoidea leaf aqueous extract. Furthermore, we focused on Priyangu-mediated synthesis of Ag nanoparticles toxic to Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi. The plant extract and the nanolarvicide were tested on three mosquito vectors, following the WHO protocol, as well as on three non-target mosquito predators. Priyangu-synthesized Ag nanoparticles were characterized by spectroscopic (UV, FTIR, XRD, and EDX) and microscopic (AFM, SEM, and TEM) analyses. Priyangu extract toxicity was moderate on Cx. quinquefasciatus (LC50246.43; LC90462.09 μg/mL), Ae. aegypti (LC50229.79; LC90442.71 μg/mL), and An. stephensi (LC50207.06; LC90408.46 μg/mL), respectively, while Priyangu-synthesized Ag nanoparticles were highly toxic to Cx. quinquefasciatus (LC5024.91; LC9045.96 μg/mL), Ae. aegypti (LC5022.80; LC9043.23 μg/mL), and An. stephensi (LC5020.66; LC9039.94 μg/mL), respectively. Priyangu extract and Ag nanoparticles were found safer to non-target larvivorous fishes, backswimmers, and waterbugs, with LC50ranging from 1247 to 37,254.45 μg/mL, if compared to target pests. Overall, the current research represents a modern approach integrating traditional botanical pesticides and nanotechnology to the control of larval populations of mosquito vectors, with negligible toxicity against non-target including larvivorous fishes, backswimmers, and waterbugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124, Pisa, Italy. benelli.giovanni@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benelli
authors.affiliation: Unit of Vector Control, Phytochemistry and Nanotechnology, Department of Zoology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, 608 002, India. drgovind1979@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marimuthu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Govindarajan
authors.affiliation: Unit of Vector Control, Phytochemistry and Nanotechnology, Department of Zoology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, 608 002, India.
authors.forename: Sengamalai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Senthilmurugan
authors.affiliation: Unit of Vector Control, Phytochemistry and Nanotechnology, Department of Zoology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, 608 002, India.
authors.forename: Periasamy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vijayan
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadaikunnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Naiyf S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Alharbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jamal M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Khaled
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects*; D031602:Aglaia; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000187:drug effects*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003465:Culex / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D007306:Insecticides; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: AFM; Botanical pesticides; Herbal remedies; Non-target fish; Priyangu; TEM