Synergistic potency and GC-MS analysis of Persea americana extracts against Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Mosquitoes are carriers of infectious diseases due to the presence of disease-transmitting vehicles such as parasites and vectors, causing severe health-related consequences to other millions of people yearly. The study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of utilizing Persea americana plant extracts in the management of mosquitoes and establishing eco-friendly methods of eradicating the vector. Methanol, ethanol, hexane, and acetone extracts of the leaves of Persea americana were prepared and examined for their insecticidal potency on the fourth instar larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. All the extracts of the plants observed after 24 exposure hours showed significant larvicidal effects. More importantly, the LC50 of the ethanol, methanol and hexane extracts of P. americana were 14.606, 22.548 and 146.157 ppm, respectively. The combined synergistic insecticidal activity for the ethanol and methanol extract was found to be 15.181 ppm, while ethanol and hexane gave the LC50 of 22.548 ppm, and the ethanol and acetone extract had the LC50 of 54.606 ppm. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins in some of the extracts. GC-MS identified the plant contains fatty acids, heterocyclic compounds, and esters responsible for larvicidal action. The plant could be considered an economically and eco-friendly control in curbing the spread of some mosquito diseases.