Larvicidal activity of essential oils of Citrus sinensis and Citrus aurantium (Rutaceae) cultivated in Morocco against the malaria vector Anopheles labranchiae (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

To study the larvicidal activity of essential oils of two aromatic and medicinal plants, Citrus aurantium (C. aurantium) and Citrus sinensis (C. sinensis) (Rutaceae) cultivated in North Eastern Morocco, against the larvae of the malaria vector Anopheles labranchiae (An. labranchiae) (Diptera: Culicidae). Biological tests were realized according to a methodology inspired from standard World Health Organization protocol. The mortality counts were made after 24 h and LC50 and LC90 values were calculated. Bioassays revealed that these oils had remarkable larvicidal properties. The minimum levels necessary to achieve 100% mortality of An. labranchiae larvae were evaluated at 160 mg/L for C. aurantium and 640 mg/L for C. sinensis. Essential oil of C. aurantium remained the most efficient (LC50 = 22.64 mg/L, LC90 = 83.77 mg/L), while those of C. sinensis was the least (LC50 = 77.55 mg/L, LC90 = 351.36 mg/L). These results suggest that the essential oils isolated from Citrus plants have the potential to be used as an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control An. labranchiae.