Mosquito larvicidal activity of linear alkane hydrocarbons from Excoecaria agallocha L. against Culex quinquefasciatus Say.

Excoecaria agallocha Linn. the blinding mangrove tree of historical significance, is well known for its curative properties. In this investigation, crude hexane extract from the dried roots of E. agallocha inhibited 50% of the growth of third instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus Say. within 24 h (LC(50): 315 ppm). SiO(2) (60-120) column chromatography purification of the extract yielded four fractions, of which fractions 3 (LC(50): 61.2 ppm) and 4 (LC(50): 74.5 ppm) exhibited 100% larvicidal activity within 18-24 h. Bioactive fraction 3 contained sub-fractions R1 and R2. R1 was characterised by (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR and FAB mass spectrometry techniques as the acyclic hydrocarbon n-triacontane (C(30)H(62)).