The potential of the extracts of Tagetes minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae), Acalypha fruticosa Forssk (Euphorbiaceae) and Tarchonanthus camphoratus L. (Compositae) against Phlebotomus duboscqi Neveu Lemaire (Diptera: Psychodidae), the vector for Leishmania major Yakimoff and Schokhor
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Date
0201-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Vector Borne Diseases
Abstract
Background & objectives: Harmful effects of synthetic chemical insecticides including vector
resistance, environmental pollution and health hazards have necessitated the current significance
in the search for plant-based insecticide products that are environmentally safe and effective to
leishmaniases control. The insecticidal activity of Tagetes minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae), Acalypha
fruticosa Forssk (Euphorbiaceae) and Tarchonanthus camphoratus L. (Compositae) extracts were
investigated against Phlebotomus duboscqi Neveu Lemaire (Diptera: Psychodidae).
Methods: The extracts were prepared from dried aerial parts soaked in methanol and ethyl acetate
twice until the filtrates became clear, filtered and dried out by rotary evaporation at 30–35oC. The
solid extracts obtained were later prepared into 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/ml. Two millilitres of the solutions
were blotted on filter papers, which were dried overnight and placed into jars where adult sandflies
were aspirated. Males and females were assayed separately.
Results & conclusion: The extracts had significant mortality (p<0.05) in both males and females
bioassays but were not significantly different between sexes. The extracts of Acalypha fruticosa
and Tagetes minuta had significantly higher mortality rates than those of Tarchonanthus
camphoratus and the different concentrations used showed significantly different mortality rates
and 10 mg/ml was the most effective concentration. Cent percent mortality was obtained at 96 h
of exposure to 5 and 10 mg/ml concentrations except for Tarchonanthus camphoratus which had a
mortality of only 46.7% in 10 mg/ml bioassay. These extracts were found to be insecticidal to adult
sandflies.
Description
Keywords
Acalypha fruticosa, Leishmaniases control, Phlebotomus duboscqi, Plant extracts, Tagetes minuta, Tarchonanthus camphoratus