Larvicidal activity of an indigenous plant, Centratherum anthelminticum.

Crude extracts of fruits and leaves of Centratherum anthelminticum in different solvents were tested for larvicidal activity against Anopheles stephensi, the vector of malaria. The petroleum ether crude extract of both fruits and leaves exhibited significant larvicidal activity against III instar larvae with LC50 values of 162.60 ppm and 522.94 ppm, respectively after 24 hr. The petroleum ether extract of fruit was 11.66, 2.15 and 1.32 times more toxic than that of leaf extract after 24, 48 and 72 hr, respectively at LC90 level. However at LC50 level the corresponding values were 3.22, 1.83 and 1.19, respectively. The petroleum ether extract of C. anthelminticum fruits is a promising source for the control of Anopheles larvae.