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Toxicity of insecticidal plant oils on the larval and adult stages of a major malaria vector (Anopheles gambiae Giles 1920)

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Abstract

Despite increasing reports and concerns about the development of resistance to public-health insecticides in malaria vectors, significant progress has been made in the search for alternative strategies to disrupt the disease transmission cycle by targeting insect vectors and thus sustaining vector management. The use of insecticidal plants is a strategy that can be employed and this study investigates the toxicity potential of insecticidal plant oils shortlisted in an ethnobotanical survey on Anopheles gambiae larvae and adult stages. The shortlisted plants parts, the leaves of Hyptis suaveolens, Ocimum gratissimum, Nicotiana tabacum, Ageratum conyzoides, and Citrus sinensis fruit-peel were collected and extracted using a Clevenger apparatus. Larvae and female adults of deltamethrin-susceptible Anopheles gambiae were obtained from an already-established colony at the University of Ilorin's Entomological Research Laboratory. In five replicates, twenty-five third instar stage larvae were used for larvicidal assays and twenty 2–5 days old adults were used for adulticidal assays. After 24 h, An. gambiae exposed to Hy. suaveolens and Ci. sinensis exhibited significantly higher larval toxicity (94.7–100%). The mortality induced by the oils of the four plants peaked at 100% after 48 h. Ni. tabacum (0.50 mg/ml) induced the highest percentage of adult mortality on An. gambiae (100%) when compared to the positive control Deltamethrin (0.05%). The lowest KdT50 was observed with 0.25 mg/ml of Ni. tabacum (20.3 min), and the lowest KdT95 was observed with 0.10 mg/ml of Ag. conyzoides (35.97 min) against adult An. gambiae. The evaluated plant oils demonstrated significant larval and adult mortality rates, lower lethal concentrations, and knockdown times, indicating promising results that can be further developed for malaria vector management.

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Acknowledgements

Gratitude goes to the Chief S.L. Edu Research Grant through the Nigerian Conservation Foundation to be able to carry out a part of this work and the Department of Pharmacology Therapeutics, University of Ibadan for space to carry out plant extractions.

Funding

Funding for this work was provided by the Chief S.L. Edu Research Grant through the Nigerian Conservation Foundation.

Chief S.L. Edu Research Grant (Nigerian Conservation Foundation)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Olukayode James Adelaja, Adedayo Olatubosun Oduola & Adeolu Taiwo Ande

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Oyindamola Olajumoke Abiodun

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Abisayo Ruth Adelaja

Authors
  1. Olukayode James Adelaja
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  2. Adedayo Olatubosun Oduola
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  3. Adeolu Taiwo Ande
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  4. Oyindamola Olajumoke Abiodun
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  5. Abisayo Ruth Adelaja
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Contributions

Olukayode James Adelaja: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Writing Original Draft preparation, Methodology, Visualization.

Adedayo Olatubosun Oduola: Conceptualization, Supervision, Writing – Review & Editing.

Adeolu Taiwo Ande: Supervision, Writing – Review & Editing.

Oyindamola Olajumoke Abiodun: Methodology, Writing – Review & Editing.

Abisayo Ruth Adelaja: Methodology, Writing – Review & Editing.

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Correspondence to Olukayode James Adelaja.

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Adelaja, O.J., Oduola, A.O., Ande, A.T. et al. Toxicity of insecticidal plant oils on the larval and adult stages of a major malaria vector (Anopheles gambiae Giles 1920). Parasitol Res 122, 1071–1078 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-023-07806-6

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