Larvicidal activities of six plants extracts against two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi.

Larvicidal activity of crude chloroform, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the leaves and roots of six Indian plants, Aegle marmelos L., Balanites aegyptica L., Calotropis gigantica L., Murraya koenigii L., Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. and Plumbago zeylanica L., were tested against the early fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti L. and Anopheles stephensi. The larval mortality was observed after 24 h of exposure. All extracts showed moderate larvicidal effects. However, the highest larval mortality was found in methanol extracts of P. zeylanica roots and B. aegyptica roots against Ae.aegypti (LC50 169.61 mg/lit, 289.59 mg/lit) and An.stephensi (LC50 222.34 mg/lit, 102.29 mg/lit), respectively. The methanol extracts of plants were more effective than the other extracts. This is an ideal eco-friendly approach aid for the control of mosquito species, Ae. aegypti, and An.stephensi.