PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF SACCOCALYX SATUREIOIDES COSS. ET DURIEU ESSENTIAL OIL AGAINST CULEX PIPIENS S.L. AND CULISETA LONGIAREOLATA (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test the potential insecticidal properties of Saccocalyx satureioides (Lamiaceae) essential oil against the 4th instar larvae of Culex pipiens s.l. and Culiseta longiareolata, which constitute the most abundant mosquito species in Setif region (Northeast of Algeria). The essential oil was extracted from the plant through hydrodistillation of dried aerial parts in a yield of 2 % and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The larvicidal effect of the obtained essential oil was thereafter tested according to the World Health Organization standard protocol. In result, the larvicidal tests revealed a Lethal Concentration causing 25 % mortality (LC25) LC25 = 45.43 Parts Per Million (ppm), Lethal concentration causing 50 % mortality (LC50) LC50 = 55.87 ppm and Lethal concentration causing 90 % mortality (LC90) LC90= 84.52 ppm against Cx. pipiens s.l. and LC25 = 52.6 ppm, LC50 = 64.48 ppm and LC90 = 96.91 ppm against Cs. longiareolata. Furthermore, the analysis of the essential oil (EO) composition led to the identification of 58 components representing 100 % of the total essential oil contents. The main chemical constituents identified were α-terpineol (23.95 %), thymol (18.15 %), and borneol (17.22 %). Ultimately the conducted experiments resulted in a potential larvicidal effect of the main compounds of S. satureioides essential oil against the tested mosquito species; these compounds could be utilized after been tested separately in mosquito control as an alternative to synthetic insecticides.