PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM THE LEAVES OF PLEIOSPERMIUM ALATUM (WALL. EX WT. & ARN) SWINGLE (RUTACEAE) AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI, ANOPHELES STEPHENSI AND CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the essential oil from the leaves of Pleiospermium alatum (Wall. ex Wt. & Arn) Swingle (Rutaceae) was evaluated for mosquito larvicidal activity against the larvae of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus . GC and GC- MS analyses revealed that the essential oil contain fourteen compounds. D-Limonene (34.02%) was identified as a major chemical compounds followed by Elemol (18.04%) and γ –Terpinene (11.83%). The larval mortality was observed after 12 and 24 hours of exposure periods. The results revealed that essential oil potential larvicidal activity against the 4 th instar larvae of A. aegypti, A. stephensi and C. quinquefasciatus . After 12 h of exposure period the larvicidal activities were LC 50 =95.2 and LC 90 =366.7 ppm ( A. aegypti ), LC 50 =72.6 and LC 90 =305.2 ppm ( A.stephensi ) and LC 50 =104.4 and LC 90 =373.6 ppm ( C. quinquefasciatus ) and the larvicidal activities after 24 h of exposure period was LC 50 =53.8 and LC 90 =251.0 ppm ( A.aegypti ), LC 50 =44.4 and LC 90 =213.8 ppm (A. stephensi) , and LC 50 =143.3 and LC 90 =375.5 ppm ( C. quinquefasciatus ). The present study showed the leaves of the essential oil from the P. alatum and its D-Limonene major compound may have potential for use in control of A . aegypti , A. stephensi and C. quinquefasciatus and could be useful in search of new, safe, inexpensive and more effective control of vector mosquitoes. Key Words: Pleiospermium alatum. GC-MS. Aedes aegypti. Anopheles stephensi . Culex quinquefasciatus