Larvicidal activity of Morus alba extract against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

           Products of plant origin, with insecticidal effects are now recognized as  attractive  alternatives  to  conventional   synthetic  insecticides  for  the management of mosquito vectors.  This study was, therefore, carried out to evaluate the larvicidal potential of plant  extract against the dengue vector, Aedes  aegypti.   Plant  samples  used  for  extraction  of   ethanolic  extract, including   leaves,  stems  and  fruits  of  Morus  alba.   Plant  samples  were collected from Northern College Nongbaotai Subdistrict MuangTak district, Tak  Province,  Thailand.   The  percentage  yields  of  obtained  by  Ethanol maceration  were,  18.32,  20.78  and  32.24 % respectively, according to dry weight  (w/w).    Results   derived  from   larvicidal  investigation  following the  World  Health  Organization  standard   larval  bioassay,   revealed  the significant  toxicity  of  the  tested  extracts   against   the   4^th  instar  larvae of Ae.  aegypti. Ethanolic  extract  of M. alba  fruits  exhibited the  strongest larvicidal  activity,   followed  by  leaves  and  stems,   with   LC₅₀  values  of 122.31,  161.48  and  187.60  ppm,  respectively.   In  conclusion,   this  study clearly    demonstrated    the    promising     potential   of    plant     extracts, particularly   fruits   extract   of   M.  alba   which   has   the   possibility   of developing  as into new  natural  larvicides  against  mosquito vectors.