LARVICIDAL AND SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS STEM EXTRACTS AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI

AJAEGBU, EZE E.; MBA, CHINYERE J.; CHIKA, OKONKWO P.; BELLO, ABDULRASHEED M.

doi:10.21608/jesp.2025.425074

LARVICIDAL AND SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS STEM EXTRACTS AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, David Umahi Federal Uni versity of Health Sciences, Uburu Ebonyi State

² Department of Dental Therapy, Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Trans Ekulu Enugu State

³ Department of Applied Sciences, Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Trans Ekulu Enugu State, Nigeria

10.21608/jesp.2025.425074

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is the main vector mosquito for transmitting Zika virus, which causes congenital
microcephaly and other debilitating conditions. This study assessed the larvicidal and synergistic
activities of Lemon eucalyptus stem extracts against the 4th instar larvae of Ae. aegypti. Stem
samples were collected, dried, powdered, and extracted using methanol, hexane, ethyl acetate,
and acetone. About 64.3% of the extracts caused moderate larvicidal activity after 24 hours.
Hexane and acetone extracts showed the highest activity at 1000ppm. The extracts contained
saponins, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids and resins. Synergistic studies revealed moder
ate larvicidal activity for all combinations of extracts at different concentrations. Lemon euca
lyptus stem extracts have promising larvicidal and synergistic activities against Ae. aegypti as a
safe effective way to stop Zika virus transmission.

Keywords