Larvicidal Effects of Crude Extracts of Dried Ripened Fruits of Piper Nigrum Against Culex Quinquefasciatus Larval Instars (Short Research Communications) (Report‪)‬

The medical importance of mosquitoes as vectors for transmission of serious diseases that cause morbidity, mortality, economic loss, and social disruption such as malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and viral diseases is well-documented (1). Mosquitoes not only cause nuisance by their bites but also transmit deadly disease like malaria, filariasis, yellow fever, dengue and Japanese encephalitis, contribute significantly to poverty and social debility in tropical countries (2). The mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus act as a vector for Wuchereria bancrofti responsible for filariasis in India. However, control of such diseases are becoming increasingly difficult because the overproduction of detoxifying mechanisms of chemical insecticides has been reported for Culex species (3). Humans have used plant parts, products and metabolites in pest control since early historical times. Plants are the chemical factories of nature, producing many chemicals, some of which have medicinal and pesticidal properties. By using plant parts in early historical times and plant extracts and concentrated components in more recent times, man has been able to control certain pests with these remedies quite successfully. The current use and future potential of plants for pest control on farms and homes are detailed in an FAO document (4). Sukumar et al (5) published an extensive review of phytochemicals from plants with activity against mosquitoes. Members of the plant families--Asteraceae, Cladophoraceae, Labiateas, Miliaceae, Oocystaceae and Rutaceae possess various types of activity against many species of mosquitoes (5). Wood (6) lists some important photochemical products such as pyrethrum, derris, quassia, nicotine, hellebore, anabasine, azadirachtin, d-limonene, camphor and terpenes that have been used as insecticides. These are major groups of insecticides of plant origin that were used in developed countries before the advent of synthetic organic insecticides (7). Ethanolic extract of Centella asiatica leaves is promising as larvicide and adult emergence inhibitor against Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae (8).