Larvicidal activity of oils, fatty acids, and methyl esters from ripe and unripe fruit of solanum lycocarpum (solanaceae) against the vector culex quinquefasciatus (diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Introduction: The larvicidal activity of oils, fatty acids, and methyl esters of Solanum lycocarpum fruit against Culex quinquefasciatus is unknown. Methods: The larvicidal activity of samples of ripe and unripe fruit from S. lycocarpum was evaluated against third and fourth instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus. Results: The oils, fatty acids, and methyl esters of S. lycocarpum showed the greatest larvicidal effect (57.1-95.0%) at a concentration of 100mg/L (LC50 values between 0.70 and 27.54mg/L). Conclusions: Solanum lycocarpum fruit may be a good source of new natural products with larvicidal activity.