The larvicidal activity of solvent extracts of three medicinal plants against third instar larvae of Chrysomyia albiceps.

Abstract

Four solvent extracts of each of Lemongrass (Symbopogon citratus), Santonica (Artemisia cinae) and Pomegranate (Punica granatum) were tested against the 3rd instar larvae of Chrysomyia albiceps. The pomegranate extracts showed the larvicidal activity with LC50 ranging between 25 ppm (acetone extract) and 280 ppm (chloroform extract). The Santonica showed larvicidal activity with LC50 ranging between 48 ppm (ethanol extract) and 380 ppm (acetone extract). The Lemongrass showed activity with LC50 ranging between 135 ppm (ethanol extract) and 570 ppm (chloroform extract). So, the most effective action in accordance to LC50 were the acetone extract of pomegranate, followed by ethanol extract of Santonica and lastly ethanol extract of Lemongrass. The slope functions of these three extracts were 4.6, 2.8 and 8.22 respectively. The shift to insect control by plant extracts pave the way to a somewhat healthy environment.