EVALUATION OF THE LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF CRUDE STEM EXTRACTS OF MUSA PARADISIACA L. (MUSACEAE) AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI LARVAE.

This study evaluated the larvicidal activity of the stem extract of Musa paradisiaca (plantain), (Musaceae) against Aedes aegypti larvae. Fresh stem material was collected, dried and pulverized. The plant material (500g) was extracted with sufficient quantity of N-Hexane, Chloroform and methanol successively. The extracts were screened for phytochemicals using standard methods. The extracts were dried and used for the larvicidal assay. The larvicidal assay was done according to World Health Organization (WHO) guideline for larvicidal assay. 20 healthy larvae of 3rd and 4th instar were used for each concentration of the extract (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5mg/ml) in triplicate including the control. The activity was monitored over a 72-hour period. The number of deaths after every 24 hours was observed and recorded. Percentage mortality and LC₅₀ values were used to determine larvicidal activities. Results of the phytochemical screening showed the presence of tannins, saponins, phenolics, triterpenoids, and alkaloids. The results for the larvicidal assay showed that the N-Hexane extract gave the highest mortality after 72 hours with 100% mortality and LC50 and LC90 of 0.25 and 0.58mg/ml respectively. The chloroform extract also exhibits a 100% mortality and LC50 and LC90 of 0.4 and 1.0 mg/ml respectively after 72 hours, while the methanol extract showed 0% activity in the 5mg/ml after 72 hours. The result of this study showed that the N-Hexane and chloroform stem extract of Musa paradisiaca gave very good activities and could further be studied to isolate the bioactive compounds(s) with the larvicidal activity.