Larvicidal Activity of the Lignan desoxypodophyllotoxin Against Aedes albopictus - Abstract
Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae), the Asian tiger mosquito, is a less efficient vector of dengue compared to Ae. aegypti although, it is able to transmit other arboviruses and thus, should remain a concern for the public health. Dengue is regarded as the most rapidly spread mosquito-borne infectious disease world. Disease prevention is dependent on controlling the mosquito population. Plant-derived natural products have been
investigated in the search for new insecticides and larvicides aiming to help in the control of insects and their larvae. Lignans are phenolic compounds mainly distributed in plants even though they are found in other organisms and the insecticidal properties have been reported. This communication describes the evaluation of the activity of desoxypodophyllotoxin (1), isolated from the rhizomes and roots of Podophyllum hexandrum against the mosquito Ae. albopictus. Bioassays were performed on 25 larvae (L3) of Ae. albopictus. The desoxypodophyllotoxin was dissolved in a mixture of acetone: dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (1:1) and applied at final concentrations of 1-30 µg/mL. The mortality (100%) of the Ae. albopictus larval was observed in all the concentrations occurred. This study showed the larvicidal activity of the lignan desoxypodophyllotoxin (1) against the larvae of Ae. albopictus, and to some extent, confirms its potential as an application in the control of mosquitoes, the main vectors of arboviruses.