STUDIES ON CONTROL OF MOSQUITO, AEDES AEGYPTI (CULICIDAE : DIPTERA ) USING THE CHLOROFORM LEAF EXTRACT OF CENTELLA ASIATICA AS A BIOCIDE

Abstract

In recent years much interest has been evinced in the use of plant products as insecticides to control vector as pests, in view
of the environmental and health hazards by synthetic organic insecticides. In the present study, Centella asiatica plant
extract was prepared using the solvent chloroform. The plant extract was tested against the various developmental stages of mosquito, Aedes aegypti.The level of the toxicity of Centella asiatica was expressed in terms of LC50/24 hours values. The LC50 values of chloroform leaf extract for I, II, III & IV instar larvae of Aedes aegypti were 1.04%, 1.369%, 1.937% and 2.642% espectively. In the present study the preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of flavanoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides and steroids in the chloroform leaf extract of Centella asiatica.The morphogenetic abnormalities are commonly caused by botanical extracts and the disturbance from the growth regulating hormones. It is therefore suggested that Centella asiatica derivatives are considered for vector control operations besides their use in other fields after exploring field trails.