Larvicidal efficacy of vernonia cinerea (l.) (asteraceae) leaf extracts against the filarial vector culex quinquefasciatus say (diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

The larvicidal efficacy of Vernonia cinerea leaf extracts against the common filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus was determined. Ground Vernonia cinerea leaves were sequentially extracted with ethyl acetate, chloroform, acetone and methanol. A series of concentrations of the extracts ranging from 0.05 - 2 mg/ml were tested against third instar larvae using WHO protocol and their percentage mortalities, LC 50 values were determined. The ethyl acetate leaf extract of Vernonia cinerea was found to be effective with an LC 50 value of 1.63 mg/ml after 24 hr. Application of these extracts to larval habits may lead to promising results in filarial and mosquito management programmes.