Ovicidal and repellent properties of Coccinia indica Wight and Arn. (Family:Cucurbitaceae) against three important vector mosquitoes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the larvicidal and repellent activities of Coccinia (C) indica Wight and Arnold (Family:Cucurbitaceae) extract against Culex (Cx.) quinquefasciatus, Aedes (Ae.) aegypti and Anopheles (An.) stephensi.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ovicidal activity was determined against three mosquito species to various concentrations ranging from 50-300 ppm under the laboratory conditions. The hatch rates were assessed 48 h post treatment. The repellent efficacy was determined against three mosquito species at three concentrations viz., 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/cm2 under the laboratory conditions.

RESULTS: Among five solvent extracts tested, the methanol extract have most promising ovicidal activity. The methanol extract exerted zero hatchability (100% mortality) at 150 ppm for Cx. quinquefasciatus, at 200 ppm for Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi. The methanol extract of C. indica found to be more repellency than the other extracts. A higher concentration of 5.0 mg/cm2 provided 100% protection up to 270 min against Cx. quinquefasciatus and 210 min against Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi, respectively. The results clearly show that repellent activity was dose dependent.

CONCLUSIONS: From the results it can be concluded the crude extract of C. indica was an excellent potential for controlling Cx. quinquefasciatus, Ae. aegypti and An. stephensi mosquitoes.