Mosquito larvicidal properties of aqueous and acetone extracts of Trianthema portulacastrum Linn. (family: Aizoaceae) against vector species of mosquitoes.

Crude aqueous and acetone extracts of leaf of Trianthema portulacastrum was evaluated for its mosquito larvicidal properties against the larvae of four vector species of mosquito under laboratory conditions. These extracts showed good larvicidal properties, 100% mortality in the third instar larvae was observed in the larval bioassay test with Anopheles culicifacies, Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti at a concentration of 1.0, 0.75, 0.75 and 1.0% respectively. The LD50 values estimated for aqueous extract against the larvae of An. culicifacies, An. stephensi, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti were 0.17, 0.15, 0.18 and 0.17% and LD90 values were 0.57, 0.58, 0.76, and 0.75% respectively. The LD50 values estimated for acetone extract against the larvae of An. culicifacies, An. stephensi, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti were 0.09, 0.10, 0.09 and 0.12 % and LD90 values were 0.28, 0.25, 0.26 and 0.26% respectively. It is observed that the acetone extract is more effective as compared to aqueous extract. Trianthema portulacastrum can be considered as a probable source of photochemical used for the development of larvicide against disease vectors.