Division of Vector Biology and Phytochemistry, Department of Zoology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608 002, Tamilnadu, India.
Parasitol Res. 2012 May;110(5):2023-32. doi: 10.1007/s00436-011-2731-7. Epub 2011 Dec 6.
Mosquitoes are blood-feeding insects and serve as the most important vectors for spreading human diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, and filariasis. The continued use of synthetic insecticides has resulted in resistance in mosquitoes. Synthetic insecticides are toxic and affect the environment by contaminating soil, water, and air, and then natural products may be an alternative to synthetic insecticides because they are effective, biodegradable, eco-friendly, and safe to environment. Botanical origin may serve as suitable alternative biocontrol techniques in the future. Mentha spicata, an edible and medicinal plant, is chiefly distributed in Southeast Asia and South Asia. In the present study, the toxicity of mosquito larvicidal activity of leaf essential oil (EO) and their major chemical constituents from Mentha spicata against Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and Anopheles stephensi. The chemical composition of the leaf EO was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). GC-MS revealed that the EO of M. spicata contained 18 compounds. The major chemical components identified were carvone (48.60%), cis-carveol (21.30%), and limonene (11.30%). The EO had a significant toxic effect against early third-stage larvae of C. quinquefasciatus, A. aegypti, and A. stephensi with LC(50) values of 62.62, 56.08, and 49.71 ppm and LC(90) values of 118.70, 110.28, and 100.99 ppm, respectively. The three major pure constituents extracted from the M. spicata leaf EO were also tested individually against three mosquito larvae. The LC(50) values of carvone, cis-carveol, and limonene appeared to be most effective against A. stephensi (LC(50) 19.33, 28.50, and 8.83 ppm) followed by A. aegypti (LC(50) 23.69, 32.88, and 12.01 ppm), and C. quinquefasciatus (LC(50) 25.47, 35.20, and 14.07 ppm). The results could be useful in search for newer, safer, and more effective natural larvicidal agents against C. quinquefasciatus, A. aegypti, and A. stephensi.
蚊子是吸血昆虫，是传播疟疾、黄热病、登革热和血丝虫病等人类疾病的最重要媒介。持续使用合成杀虫剂导致蚊子产生了抗药性。合成杀虫剂有毒，会通过污染土壤、水和空气对环境造成影响，因此天然产物可能是合成杀虫剂的替代品，因为它们有效、可生物降解、对环境友好且安全。植物源可能是未来合适的生物防治技术。薄荷，一种可食用和药用植物，主要分布在东南亚和南亚。在本研究中，对薄荷叶精油及其主要化学成分对致倦库蚊、埃及伊蚊和致倦库蚊幼虫的杀蚊活性进行了研究。采用气相色谱-质谱联用仪（GC-MS）分析了叶精油的化学成分。GC-MS 表明，薄荷叶精油含有 18 种化合物。鉴定出的主要化学成分是柠檬烯（48.60%）、顺式香芹醇（21.30%）和柠檬烯（11.30%）。该精油对三龄早期幼虫具有显著的毒杀作用，对致倦库蚊、埃及伊蚊和致倦库蚊的 LC50 值分别为 62.62、56.08 和 49.71ppm，LC90 值分别为 118.70、110.28 和 100.99ppm。从薄荷叶精油中提取的三种主要纯成分也分别单独测试了对三种蚊虫幼虫的作用。柠檬烯、顺式香芹醇和柠檬烯的 LC50 值对致倦库蚊（LC50 19.33、28.50 和 8.83ppm）最为有效，其次是埃及伊蚊（LC50 23.69、32.88 和 12.01ppm）和致倦库蚊（LC50 25.47、35.20 和 14.07ppm）。这些结果可能有助于寻找新型、安全、更有效的天然杀蚊剂，用于防治致倦库蚊、埃及伊蚊和致倦库蚊。
