Plant-based larvicidal agents: An overview from 2000 to 2018

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Environmental Science
• Toxicology

Background:

• Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant global health threat.
• Conventional insecticides face challenges like resistance and environmental impact.
• Natural products from plants offer a promising alternative for vector control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize findings on larvicidal plants and formulations.
• To identify plant-derived compounds with high larvicidal potency (LC50 < 100 μg/mL).
• To consolidate information for developing effective, eco-friendly larvicidal products.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across major scientific databases.
• Selection of studies reporting larvicidal efficacy (LC50) of plant extracts or oils.
• Tabulation of key findings, focusing on high-potency compounds (LC50 < 10 μg/mL) and repeated findings.

Main Results:

• Larvicidal potency of reviewed herbal resources varied widely, from sub-microgram/mL to negligible.
• Several plant genera and species demonstrated consistent larvicidal activity across independent studies.
• Advancements in larvicidal formulations and the activity of isolated phytoconstituents were documented.

Conclusions:

• A significant number of plant-derived compounds exhibit potent larvicidal activity.
• This synthesized data can guide the design and optimization of novel herbal-based larvicidal formulations.
• Further research into specific phytoconstituents and formulation strategies is warranted for sustainable vector control.