African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (11), pp. 1351-1354, November 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Larvicidal effects of aqueous extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca (desert date) against the larvae of Culex pipiens mosquitoes

Bishnu Chapagain and Zeev Wiesman*

Phyto-Lipid Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, the Institutes for Applied Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer-Sheva 85104 Israel.

*Corresponding author. Tel/Fax: 972-8-647-7184, E-mail: wiesman@bgu.ac.il.

Accepted 23 September, 2005

The effect of aqueous extracts of the fruit pulp, seed kernel, roots, bark, and leaves of Balanites aegyptiaca Del. (Zygophyllacea) against the larvae of the Culex pipens mosquito was investigated. Early fourth instars larvae of C. pipiens mosquitoes were exposed, for up to three days, to a dilution of 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% aqueous extracts of fruit pulp, seed kernel, roots, bark, and leaves. All tested extracts showed larval mortality, however, larval mortality was greatest with the aqueous root extract. The lowest concentration of root extract (0.1%) showed 100% larval mortality after three days, whereas a 0.5% concentration of aqueous bark extract was needed for 100% larval mortality. Aqueous extracts of leaf, fruit pulp, and seed kernel showed less larval mortality compared to the root and/or bark extracts. It is suggested that all parts of the B. aegyptiaca contain larvicidal properties that could be developed and used as natural insecticides for mosquito control.

Key words: Culex pipens, mosquito, desert date, Balanites aegyptiaca.