Larvicidal efficacy of Adhatoda vasica (L.) Nees against the bancroftian filariasis vector Culex quinquefasciatus Say and dengue vector Aedes aegypti L. in in vitro condition.

The larvicidal activities of methanolic fractions from Adhatoda vasica leaf extracts were investigated against the bancroftian filariasis vector Culex quinquefasciatus and dengue vector Aedes aegypti. The results indicated that the mortality rates was high at 100, 150, 200 and 250 ppm of methanol extract of fractions III with R (f) value 0.67 and methanol extract of fraction V with R (f) value 0.64 of A. vasica against all the larval instars of C. quinquefasciatus and A. aegypti. The result of log probit analysis (at 95% confidence level) revealed that lethal concentration, LC(50) and LC(90) values were 106.13 and 180.6 ppm for fraction III, 110.6 and 170 ppm for fraction V of C. quinquefasciatus. And, the LC(50) and LC(90) values were 157.5 and 215.5 ppm for fraction III of A. aegypti and 120 and 243.5 ppm for the fraction V of A. aegypti, respectively. All the tested fractions proved to have strong larvicidal activity (doses from 100 to 250 ppm) against C. quinquefasciatus and A. aegypti. In general, second instar was more susceptible than the later instar. The results achieved suggest that, in addition to their ethnopharmacology value, A. vasica may also serve as a natural larvicidal agent.