Journal of Environmental Biology

Larvicidal potential of wild mustard (Cleome viscosa) and

gokhru (Tribulus terrestris) against mosquito vectors in

the semi-arid region of Western Rajasthan

S.K. Bansal*, Karam V. Singh and Sapna Sharma

Desert Medicine Research Centre (ICMR), New Pali Road, Jodhpur - 342 005, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: bansalsk@dmrcjodhpur.org

 Publication Data

Paper received:

12 December 2012

Revised received:

29 May 2013

Accepted:

31 July 2013

Abstract

Cleome viscosa L. (Family: Capparaceae) commonly known as Tickweed or wild mustard and Tribulus terrestris L. (Family: Zygophyllaceae) commonly known as Gokhru, growing wildly in the desert areas in the monsoon and post monsoon season, are of great medicinal importance. Comparative larvicidal efficacy of the extracts from seeds of C. viscosa and fruits and leaves of T. terrestris was evaluated against 3^rd or early 4^th stage larvae of Anopheles stephensi (Liston), Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) in different organic solvents. 24 and 48hr LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values along with their 95% fiducial limits, regression equation, chi-square (χ²)/ heterogeneity of the response was determined by log probit regression analysis. The 24hr LC₅₀ values as determined for seeds of C. viscosa were 144.1, 99.5 and 127.1 (methanol); 106.3, 138.9 and 118.5 (acetone) and 166.4, 162.5 and 301.9 mg l^-1 (petroleum ether extracts) for all the three mosquito species respectively showing that methanol and acetone extracts were a little bit more effective than the petroleum ether extracts. Experiments were carried out with fruits and leaves of T. terrestris with all the solvents and mosquito species. The 24hr LC₅₀ values, as determined for fruits of T. terrestris were 70.8,103.4 and 268.2 (methanol); 74.0,120.5 and 132.0 (acetone) and 73.8, 113.5 and 137.4 mg l^-1 (petroleum ether extracts) while the 24hr LC₅₀ values for leaves were 124.3, 196.8 and 246.5 (methanol); 163.4, 196.9 and 224.3 (acetone) and 135.8,176.8 and 185.9 mg l^-1 (petroleum ether extracts) for all the three mosquito species respectively. The results clearly indicate that fruit extracts of T. terrestris were more effective as compared to leaves extracts in the three solvents tested. Larvae of An. stephensi were found more sensitive to both fruit and leaves extracts of T. terrestris followed by larvae of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Extracts from the seeds of C. viscosa were found less effective as compared to the fruit extracts of T. terrestris indicating that active larvicidal principle may be present in the fruits of this plant species. The study would be of great importance while formulating the control strategy, for vectors of malaria, dengue and lymphatic filariasis, based on alternative plant based insecticides in this semi-arid region.

 Key words

C. viscosa, Mosquito larvicides, Semi-arid region, T. terrestris

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