Toxicity of Thevetia peruviana (yellow oleander) against larvae of Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti vectors of malaria and dengue

The secondary metabolites (terpenes, acetogenins and alkaloids produced by the plants have been explored for their utility in mosquito control as it has been already proven that some of the plant compounds are toxic to the target organism but harmless to mankind. Basic research for the synthesis of new pesticides is need of the hour. This study was conducted using secondary metabolites of plant extract of Thevetia peruviana to study its larvicidal properties against the larvae of Malaria and Dengue vectors. The toxicity of the leaf extract of Thevetia peruviana was evaluated against the larvae of Anopheles stephensi, and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Mean LC50 values of the petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone and methanol extracts obtained from leaves of Thevetia peruviana against the larvae of An.stephensi and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes after 24 hours were determined as 0.045, >0.05, 0.026, 0041 and 0.038, >0.05, 0.021 and 0.036%, respectively. However delayed impact after 3 days with chloroform extract and indicated that the larvicidal action is probably due to the insect growth inhibition.