Abstract:
The global rise in mosquito-borne diseases, particularly dengue fever, emphasizes the
need for eco-friendly vector control methods. This study investigates the larvicidal
potential of five medicinal plants such as Nicotiana tabacum (Tobacco), Acorus
calamus (Sweet Flag), Pongamia pinnata (Pungam), Calotropis sp., and Aristolochia
bracteolate (Worm Killer) against Aedes sp. larvae. All selected plant extracts were
prepared by using methanol as a solvent and larvicidal mortality was assessed 24 hrs
with different concentration ranges from 25-500 ppm for each extract. The highest
mortality was observed in Acorus calamus with 98.00% ± 2.45 reduction at 500 ppm
alongside the lowest LC50 of 58.07 ppm ± 0.80, LC90 of 557.82 ± 0.75 and LC99 of
1103.22 ± 0.75. Calotropis sp. demonstrate moderate effectiveness with a 93.00% ±
2.45 mortality rate at 500 ppm and an LC50 of 97.27 ppm ± 0.75. In contrast,
Aristolochia bracteolate was the least effective, resulting in a mortality rate of 67.00%
± 5.10 at 500 ppm, an LC50 of 330.47 ppm ± 0.4, an LC90 of 1208.20 ± 0.63, and an
LC99 of 2166.09 ± 1.02. One-way ANOVA confirmed significant differences in
mortality across extracts (p < 0.001), and Tukey’s post-hoc test revealed Acorus
calamus was significantly more effective than Pongamia pinnata and Aristolochia
bracteolate (p < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated a strong dose-response
relationship for all extracts, with Acorus calamus showing the highest regression
coefficient (0.22) and Aristolochia bracteolate the lowest (0.08). Phytochemical
screening identified key bioactive compounds such as phenols, terpenoids, and
alkaloids. Effect size analysis (Cohen’s d = 1.72) between Acorus calamus and
Aristolochia bracteolate highlighted substantial differences in efficacy. These findings
demonstrate the strong potential of Acorus calamus as a promising natural larvicide,
while Aristolochia bracteolate is less effective, suggesting that a higher concentration
or combination of plant extracts might be needed for optimal mosquito control.
