Larvicidal Activities and Biochemical Effects...

Larvicidal Activities and Biochemical Effects of Apigenin and Taraxerol (Phytochemicals) in Binary Combination against Elephantiasis Vector Culex Quinquefasciatus

Author Name : Abhay Deep Johnson , Vikas Chandra Verma

ABSTRACT Plant extracts are safer for non-target organisms including man and vector borne diseases. Plant based formulations would be used in environmental products with proven potential as insecticide. Therefore, larvicidal activity of biologically active compounds i.e. Apigenin and Taraxerol extracted from leaves of Jatropha gossypifolia and Codiaeum variegatum against larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus was studied in binary combination. WHO protocols was adopted for the larvicidal bioassay. The active compound i.e. Apigenin and Taraxerol extracted through ethyl alcohol and petroleum solvents from the leaves of Euphorbious plants was administered for 24h, 48h, 72h and 96h to the larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus. Exposure of larvae over 24h to 96h sub-lethal doses (40% and 80% of LC50) of apigenin and taraxerol in the ratio (1:1, 1:2, 1:5) as shown in Table 1 forms, significantly (P<0.05) altered the level of total protein, total free amino acid, glycogen and activity of enzyme acetylcholinesterase, acid and alkaline phosphatases activity in whole body tissue of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. The alteration in all these biochemical parameters were significantly (P<0.05) time and dose dependent. It is an ecofriendly method to manage the population of Culex quinquefasciatus. Keywords: Jatropha gossypifolia, Codiaeum variegatum, Apigenin, Taraxerol and Culex quinquefasciatus