Larvicidal activity of Ageratum houstonianum Mill. (Asteraceae) leaf extracts against Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

ObjectiveTo evaluate the larvicidal activity of Ageratum houstonianum (A. houstonianum)crude leaf extracts against the immatures of vector mosquitoes.MethodsBioassays were performed in the laboratory with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol crude leaf extracts of A. houstonianum at concentrations of 62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1 000, 2 000, 4 000 and 8 000 mg/L against the third instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus.ResultsPoor larvicidal activity was observed. The lowest LC50 value was noted in ethyl acetate extract against all three vector mosquito species studied and was 3 377.84, 1 952.12 and 3 558.32 mg/L respectively after 24 h. The effect of toxicity was also manifested in a shorter period when compared to the other extracts viz., hexane and methanol. In Anopheles stephensi, more than 80% mortality was however observed at higher concentrations, after 24 h exposure in all the three extracts. In Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus, this was observed by 3 and 24 h respectively in ethyl acetate extract.ConclusionsScreening of other parts of A. houstonianum with other solvents from different places for its larvicidal activity is recommended.