Research Article EFFICACY OF ANAMIRTA COCCULUS (LINN.) WIGHT AND ARN AND POGOSTEMON PANICULATUS (WILD) BENTH EXTRACT ON CULEX PIPIENS

ABSTRACT: Acetone extracts of Anamirta cocculus fruit and Pogostemon paniculatus leaf was tested for its larvicidal activity against different instars of Culex pipiens. The data on 24 hr LC50 and LC90 revealed that the acetone extracts of the selected plants have potential larvicidal properties. The LC50 values of the selected plant extracts are dose and time dependent and the data show a three to five fold increase in activity at 72 hr exposure. Total protein content of the different instars of the larvae of Culex pipiens are also estimated by modified Lowry method and result shows no significant differences between the control and treated larvae of Cx. pipiens. The essential oils of the two selected plant materials were extracted and conducted repellency tests. The study concludes that both acetone extracts and essential oils of the selected plant materials showed their potential to be used as biolarvicides especially to control mosquito populations. Key words: Anamirta cocculus, Pogostemon paniculatus larvicidal activity, Culex pipien