Background The excessive use of synthetic insecticides is responsible for many cases of resistance in insects. Therefore, the use of natural molecules of ecological interest with insecticidal properties is an alternative approach to the use of synthetic insecticides. The aim of this study is to investigating the larvicidal and adulticidal activity and the chemical composition of the essential oil of Aeollanthus pubescens on the major malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae. Methods Three reference strains of Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (Kisumu, Kiskdr and Acerkis) were used in this study. The leaves of A. pubescens were collected in southern Benin. The standard World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for larvicide evaluation were used, and the chemical composition of the essential oil was analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Adult mosquitoes of each strain were exposed to pieces of net coated with the essential oil for 3 min using the WHO cone bioassay method. Probit regression analysis was used to determine the concentrations that would kill 50 and 95% of each test population (LC50, LC95) and the knockdown time for 50 and 95% of each test population (KDT50, and KDT95). The difference between the mortality–dose regressions for the different strains was analysed using the likelihood ratio test (LRT). The log-rank test was performed to evaluate the difference in survival between the strains. Results A total of 14 components were identified, accounting for 98.3% of total oil content. The major components were carvacrol (51.1%), thymyle acetate (14.0%) and ɣ-terpinene (10.6%). The essential oil showed larvicidal properties on the Kisumu, Acerkis and Kiskdr strains, with LC50 of 29.6, 22.9 and 28.4 ppm, respectively. With pieces of netting treated at 165 µg/cm2, the KDT50 of both Acerkis (1.71 s; Z = 3.34, P < 0.001) and Kiskdr (2.67 s; Z = 3.49, P < 0.001) individuals were significantly lower than that of Kisumu (3.8 s). The lifespan of the three mosquito strains decreased to 1 day for Kisumu (χ2 = 99, df = 1, P < 0.001), 2 days for Acerkis (χ2 = 117, df = 1, P < 0.001) and 3 days for Kiskdr (χ2 = 96.9, df = 1, P < 0.001). Conclusion Our findings show that A. pubescens essential oil has larvicide and adulticide properties against the malaria vector An. gambiae sensu stricto, suggesting that this essential oil may be a potential candidate for the control of the resistant malaria-transmitting vectors. Graphical Abstract

The essential oil (EO) of plants of the Poaceae family has diverse chemical constituents with several biological properties. But, data on the chemical constituents and toxicity are still unavailable for some species belonging to this family, such as Euclasta condylotricha Steud (Eu. condylotricha). In this study, the chemical composition of the EOs of Eu. condylotricha flowers was evaluated by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The EOs larvicidal property was assessed against third instar larvae of three Anopheles gambiae laboratory strains (Kisumu, Acerkis and Kiskdr) according to the WHO standard protocol. The percentage yields of the EOs obtained from hydro distillation of Eu. condylotricha flowers varied 0.070 to 0.097%. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) applied to the EOs revealed fifty-five (55) chemical constituents, representing 94.95% to 97.78% of the total essential oils. Although different chemical profiles of the dominant terpenes were observed for each sample, EOs were generally dominated by sesquiterpenoids with juvenile hormones as the major compounds. The primary compounds were juvenile hormone C16 (JH III) (35.97–48.72%), Methyl farnesoate 10,11-diol (18.56–28.73%), tau-Cadinol (18.54%), and β-Eudesmene (12.75–13.46%). Eu. condylotricha EOs showed a strong larvicidal activity with LC50 values ranging from 35.21 to 52.34 ppm after 24 hours of exposition. This study showed that Eu. Condylotricha flowers essential oils are potent sources of juvenile hormones that could be a promising tool for developing an eco-friendly malaria vector control strategy.

The use of synthetic insecticides is responsible for many cases of resistance in insects. Therefore, the use of natural molecules of ecological interest with insecticidal properties turns out to be an alternative approach to the use of synthetic insecticides. This study aims at investigating the larvicidal, adulticidal activity and the composition of the essential oil of Aeollanthus pubescens Benth on the major malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.The leaves of Aeollanthus pubescens were collected in the South of the Republic of Benin. Three reference strains of Anopheles gambiae s.s. such as Kisumu, Kiskdr and Acerkis were used. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Larvae were exposed to the essential oil extract for 24 h. Adult mosquitoes were exposed to the fragment nets coated with the essential oil for 3 min. Larval mortality and adult survivorship were monitored.Fourteen components were identified representing 98.31% of the total of oil. The major components were carvacrol (51.06 %), thymyle acetate (14.01 %) and γ-terpinene (10.60 %). The essential oil has remarkable larvicidal properties with LC50 of 29.26, 22.65, and 28.37 ppm respectively on Kisumu, Acerkis and Kiskdr strains. With the fragment net treated at 165 µg/cm2, the KDT50 of both Acerkis (1.71 s, p < 0.001) and Kiskdr (2.67 s, p < 0.001) individuals were significantly lower than that of Kisumu (3.77 s). The lifespan of the three mosquito strains decreased respectively to one day for Kisumu (p < 0.001), two days for Acerkis (p < 0.001) and three days for Kiskdr (p < 0.001) compared to their control.Our findings show that the Aeollanthus pubescens essential oil is an efficient larvicide and adulticide against malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. This bioinsecticidal activity is a promising discovery for the control of the resistant malaria-transmitting vectors.

Background: The use of synthetic insecticides is responsible for many cases of resistance in insects. Therefore, the use of natural molecules of ecological interest with insecticidal properties turns out to be an alternative approach to the use of synthetic insecticides. This study aims at investigating the larvicidal, adulticidal activity and the chemical composition of the essential oil of Aeollanthus pubescens Benth on the major malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.The leaves of Aeollanthus pubescens were collected in the South of the Republic of Benin.Methods: Three reference strains of Anopheles gambiae s.s. such as Kisumu, Kiskdr and Acerkis were used. The standard WHO guideline for larvicides evaluation was used and the chemical composition of the essential oil was analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Adult mosquitoes were exposed to the fragment nets coated with the essential oil for 3 min. Probit regression analysis was used for LC50 , LC95 , KDT50 , and KDT95 calculations. The difference between the mortality‐dose regressions for the different strains was analysed using the likelihood ratio test (LRT). The Log-rank test was performed to evaluate the difference in survival between the strains.Results: Fourteen components were identified representing 98.31% of the total of oil. The major components were carvacrol (51.06 %), thymyle acetate (14.01 %) and ɣ-terpinene (10.60 %). The essential oil has remarkable larvicidal properties with LC50 of 29.57, 22.95, and 28.37 ppm respectively on Kisumu, Acerkis and Kiskdr strains. With the fragment net treated at 165 µg/cm2, the KDT50 of both Acerkis (1.71 s, p < 0.001) and Kiskdr (2.67 s, p < 0.001) individuals were significantly lower than that of Kisumu (3.77 s). The lifespan of the three mosquito strains decreased respectively to one day for Kisumu (p < 0.001), two days for Acerkis (p < 0.001) and three days for Kiskdr (p < 0.001) compared to their control.Conclusion: Our findings show that the Aeollanthus pubescens essential oil is an efficient larvicide and adulticide against malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. This bioinsecticidal activity is a promising discovery for the control of the resistant malaria-transmitting vectors.