PJB-2019-927
Biocontrol of dengue vector and anti-microbial efficacy of selected species of genus “Tamarix”
Izhar Ahmad
Abstract
Pathogenic species of bacteria, fungi and Dengue vector, the mosquito Adese aegypti are spreading many deadly diseases, worldwide. In view of the resistance to the synthetic drugs and their hazards to ecosystem the current research utilizes the biochemicals extracted from the shoots of genus “Tamarix”. The three plants Tamarix baluchistanica, Tamarix androssowii and Tamarix mascatensis were extracted with 80% methanol, subsequently fractioned with organic solvents, evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, larvicidal and adulticidal bioassays. The best active n-hexane fraction of Tamarix baluchistanica was subjected to column chromatography. Isolated oils resulted in adulticidal activity of the mosquitoes. The isolated oils were subjected to GC-MS for identification. All three plant extracts exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities but the extract of T. baluchistanica showed 60-80% activity of their respective standard antibiotic. Lowest MIC 50 µg/ml was observed for n-hexane fraction of T. baluchistanica against P. aeruginosa and H. solani, A. niger and M. phaseolina. While the n-hexane fraction of T. baluchistanica also exhibited lowest LC50 of 0.42 mg/ml for larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti. The fatty acid oils isolated from n-hexane fraction of T. baluchistanica dissolved in coconut oil (1 µl/ml) exhibited 96% mortality of adult mosquitoes after 3h. The GC-MS of n-hexane fraction of T. baluchistanica revealed presence of l-(+)-Ascorbic acid 2, 6 di- hexadecanoic acid as active ingredient. These plant extracts can be sprayed to kill the mosquito larvae. The fatty acid oil mixed with coconut oil may be used as lotion against mosquito bite.
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