LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF HEXANE-EXTRACTS OF Cinnamomum cassia and Zingiber officinale AND THEIR COMBINATION AGAINST Culex pipiens (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Botanical products are encouraged for mosquito control because of their low cost, rapid degradation, and low toxicity. The hexane extracts of Cinnamomum cassia (C) and Zingiber officinale (Z) were assessed alone or in combination on the 3rd instar of Culex pipiens. The LC50 values of C. cassia and Z. officinale against Cx. pipiens were 317.61 and 269.4 mu g mL(-1), respectively. The Z75%: C25% ratio was the most promising among the different combinations tested, with IC50 value of 251.76 mu g mL(-1). The histological sections of extract-treated larvae (C25%: Z75%) induced degeneration of epithelial cells, degradation of microvilli, and loss of nuclei. Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of Z. officinale hexane extract showed a linear relationship. Z. officinale extract at 60.5 mu g mL(-1) possessed the highest hemolytic activity (73.9 +/- 0.5%). Our results revealed that the combined hexane extracts of C. cassia and Z. officinale provided promising larvicidal action against Cx. pipiens.

Automated summary

Botanical products, such as hexane extracts of Cinnamomum cassia and Zingiber officinale, have shown promising larvicidal action against Culex pipiens mosquitoes. The combination of the two extracts had the most potential, with an IC50 value of 251.76 μg/mL. The histological analysis revealed degeneration of epithelial cells and loss of nuclei in the treated larvae. Zingiber officinale extract exhibited the highest hemolytic activity at 60.5 μg/mL (73.9 +/- 0.5%).