Phytochemical profile and larvicidal activity of aqueous extract of Ocimum americanum against mosquito vectors

Abstract

The primary goal of this research was to evaluate the phytochemicals, including bioactive components of Ocimum americanum extracts and assess their larvicidal potential against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus. The aqueous extraction process on O. americanum provides higher yield (9.61 ± 0.11%) and a significant volume of phytochemicals (tannins, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, protein, and carbohydrate) than other solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, petroleum ether, and chloroform) extracts. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography analyses revealed about eight predominant phytochemicals/functional groups in O. americanum aqueous extract. Surprisingly, in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, about 30 bioactive components were found in the aqueous extract of O. americanum, the majority of which had previously been identified as medicinally valuable bioactive components. Furthermore, these bioactive components containing aqueous extract demonstrated significant larvicidal activity against 3rd and 4th instar larvae of A. aegypti, An. stephensi, and C. quinquefasciatus after 24 h of treatment at concentrations ranging from 35 to 50 mg mL −1 . Thus, their outstanding larvicidal potential on 3rd and 4th instar larvae, the phytochemicals present in the aqueous extract of O. americanum could be used to control mosquito duplication and vector-borne diseases.

Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum americanum: A Systematic Literature Review on Chemical Compositions and Antimicrobial Properties

“…78,79 Primary metabolites such as protein, amino acid, carbohydrate, fatty acid, and minerals are among the nutritional elements found in Ocimum americanum plants that are good for human health. 80,81 According to Mustafa and El-kamali 82 calcium content, iron content, salt content, potassium content, manganese content, and zinc content were detected in significant amounts in the elemental analysis of Ocimum americanum plant leaf and flower conducted using atomic absorption spectroscopy and flame emission techniques (Table 3).…”

Mosquito Larvicidal Activity and Cytotoxicity of the Extracts of Aromatic Plants from Malaysia

“…Unlike the more pronounced members of the Ocimum genus, for instance, O. basilicum , O. sanctum , and O. tenuiflorum , which are immensely investigated for their mosquitocidal and repellency properties, there is minimal research and evidence to reflect on the larvicidal efficacy of the extracts and essential oils of O. americanum against mosquito vectors. Only recently, Narayanan et al [ 49 ] reported on the bioactive components of the aqueous extracts of O. americanum, which showed significant larvicidal properties against Ae. aegypti , An.…”

Green Synthesis of Chitosan Nanoparticles Using of Martynia annua L. Ethanol Leaf Extract and Their Antibacterial Activity

“…Although medicinal plant extracts possess excellent potential for treating bacterial infections caused by drugs resistant pathogens. It is interesting to know that >5% of the world's plant species have indeed been studied as potential medicines thus far, with the remaining 95% still yet to be studied [8][9][10]. Interestingly, the phytochemicals from the plant extract also have the potential to synthesize the nanoparticles with pharmaceutically valuable, therapeutics [3,11].…”