Screening for larvicidal activity of ten carminative plants

Ten species of plants, reported to possess carminative property, were screened for larvicidal potential against Culex quinquefasciatus by exposing early 4th instar larvae to a series of concentrations of the ethanolic extracts of the plants. Mortality counts were made after 24 hours exposure. Probit analysis using computerized Harvard Programming (Hg1, 2) was employed to determine the LC50, LC95 and LC99 values in order to compare the larvicidal potency of the ten plants. Marked larvicidal effects were seen with Kaempferia galanga, Illicium vernum and Spilanthes acmella having LC50 values of 50.54, 54.11 and 61.43 ppm, respectively.