Larvicidal and ovicidal activities of Cucumis pubescens and Cucumis sativus leaf extract against yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti L.

摘要

The benzene, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of fresh leaves of Cucumis pubescens and C. sativus obtained from Kothattai, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India, were tested against third instar larvae and eggs of Aedes aegypti. Larval mortality and egg hatchability were evaluated after 24 and 48 h of exposure to different concentrations of the test solutions, respectively. The results showed that both C. pubescens and C. sativus had larvicidal activity against A. aegypti, with C. pubescens having a higher activity than C. sativus (LC< sub>50, 21.78-65.37 vs. 119.66-250.08 ppm). In terms of egg hatchability, 250 ppm of benzene extract and 300 ppm of ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and methanol extracts of C. pubescens demonstrated zero egg hatchability (100% mortality). On the other hand, the C. sativus extracts showed 100% mortality at 750 ppm only. It is concluded that leaf extracts of C. pubescens and C. sativus exhibit both larvicidal and ovicidal properties against A. aegypti.