TY  - JOUR
T1  - Larvicidal Activity of Aqueous Extracts from <i>Jatropha curcas</i> on Mosquito Larvae from
Kyambogo Swamp, Kyambogo University, Kampala-Uganda
AU - Maria Asio, Santa AU - Kigozi, Stephen AU - Walukana, Leonard 
JO  - Research Journal of Biological Sciences
VL  - 16
IS  - 3
SP  - 17
EP  - 21
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1815-8846
DO  - rjbsci.2021.17.21
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjbsci.2021.17.21
KW  - Larvicidal activity
KW  -Jatropha curcas
KW  -Mosquito larvae
AB  - Mosquito transmitted infections are the leading
cause of morbidity and mortality in many African
countries including Uganda. The mosquitoes lay their
eggs in stagnant water. The eggs then hatch into larvae,
pupa and later into adults. Synthetic insecticides are
commonly used to control these deadly insects. However,
most of these insecticides are very expensive and
non-environmentally friendly. There is also increased
resistance of mosquitoes to these insecticides hence the
need to search for new sources of bioactive compounds
that can potentially deplete and incapacitate mosquito
populations. <i>Jatropha curcas</i> has been reported to contain
larvicidal, insecticidal and insect repellency properties.
This study therefore aimed at assessing the larvicidal
activity of aqueous extracts from <i>Jatropha curcas</i> seeds,
leaves, barks and roots on mosquito larvae in vitro using
a Completely Randomized Experimental Design. The seed
extract exhibited a mortality rate of 83.3% at 80%
concentration level and 80, 60, 56.7 and 40% mortality
rates at 60, 40, 20 and 10% concentration levels,
respectively. The leaf extract exhibited a mortality rate of
43.3% at 80% concentration level and33.3, 23.3, 13.3 and
10% mortality rates at 60, 40, 20 and 10% concentration
levels, respectively. The bark extract exhibited a mortality
rate of 43.3% at 80% concentration level and 26.7, 20,
13.3 and 6.7% mortality rates at 60, 40, 20 and 10%
concentration levels, respectively while the root
extract exhibited a mortality rate of 43.3% at 80%
concentration level and 23.3, 20, 13.3 and 6.7% mortality
rates at 60, 40, 20 and 10% concentration levels,
respectively. In the control experiments, no mortality
of mosquito larvae was noted. All the aqueous
<i>Jatropha curcas</i> extracts were able to cause mortality of
mosquito larvae within a period of 24 h. The mortality
rates generally increased with increase in concentration
levels of the extracts. However, apart from the bark
extract, increase in the concentration levels of the rest
of the extracts did not yield any significant
difference in the mortality rates of the mosquito larvae
at 5% significance level. Generally, the seed extract
exhibited the highest larvicidal activity hence it could be
used in the development of affordable, effective and
environmentally friendly mosquito larvicides.
ER  -