Status of carbohydrate, protein and lipid profile in the mosquito larvae treated with certain phytoextracts

To investigate the impact of the most potent petroleum ether extract of Artemisia annua (A. annua) and Azadirachta indica (Az. indica) on total carbohydrate, lipid and protein level of Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae.

Mosquito larvae were exposed to the extracts selected as per standard WHO procedure. Carbohydrate (glucose), total lipid and protein were estimated by the methods as Nelson, Bragdon and Lowry described, respectively.

The glucose levels were increased to 27.87% and 46.8%, respectively in anopheline larval tissues after treatment with petroleum ether extract of A. annua and methanolic extract of Az. indica. In culicine larvae, glucose levels were reduced to 58.96% and 24.65%, respectively. After treatment with A. annua extract, lipid contents in anopheline and culicine larvae decreased by 28.57% and 25.0%, respectively and increased by 14.29% and 50.00% in the Anopheles and Culex larvae, respectively after treatment with methanolic extract of Az. indica. Total protein levels were reduced to 63.13% and 92.62% in anopheline and to 32.39% and 48.12% in culicine larvae after treatment with A. annua and Az. Indica extracts, respectively.

Two extracts produce significant alterations in the biochemical profiles of anopheline and culicine larvae. Further, the impacting factors of extracts on carbohydrate, lipid and protein contents of larvae are species and specific extraction. It indicates the disturbed metabolic activity of the larvae.