Abstract

LARVICIDAL EFFICACY OF AZIMA TETRACANTHA LEAVES AND ITS SILVER NANOPARTICLES AGAINST ANOPHELES STEPHENSI

Manimegalai B and Velavan S*

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the larvicidal activity of Azima tetracantha leaves extract and its silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) under 4 concentrations as 2, 4, 6 and 8% against the 4th instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi. The different larval mortality percentages were recorded after 96 hours. The larvicidal effect of Azima tetracantha leaves extract and its silver nanoparticle were compared. The Azima tetracantha leaves extract and its silver nanoparticle in their different concentrations have shown larvicidal effects on Anopheles stephensi larvae. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the higher concentration of Anopheles stephensi that all concentrations recorded 100 % mortality of the tested larvae. The results indicated that, silver nanoparticle had the greatest larvicidal effect against Anopheles stephensi larvae with the lowest LC50 (0.18%) followed by plant. This study suggests that silver nanoparticle should be considered as promising larvicidal activity against Anopheles stephensi larva.

Keywords: Anopheles stephensi, Azima tetracantha leaves, Silver nanoparticle.