1Setif 1 University - Ferhat Abbas, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Improvement and Development of Animal and Plant Production, Setif19000, Algeria
2University Constantine 1 - Frères Mentouri, Laboratory of biosystematics and Arthropods’ ecology, Constantine25000, Algeria
3Setif 1 University - Ferhat Abbas, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry, Setif 1, 19000, Algeria
*Email: aribilamiaya@gmail.com (corresponding author)
This study assessed the larvicidal efficacy of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil against fourth-instar larvae of Culexpipiens s.l., the most predominant mosquito species in Algeria, particularly in the Setif region. The essential oil, obtained by hydro-distillation from dried aerial parts, yielded 0.9± 0.06% and was chemically characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). Analysis revealed 48 constituents, accounting for 99% of the total oil, with α-citral (37.74%) and β-citral (28.31%) as the major components. Larvicidal bioassays showed strong activity, with lethal concentrations estimated at LC25 = 42.88 ppm, LC50 = 59.96 ppm, and LC90 = 117.2 ppm. Furthermore, biochemical analyses revealed reductions in body weight, carbohydrate, and protein contents, concomitant with an increase in lipid levels in the treated larvae. These findings underscore the strong larvicidal activity of C. citratus EO and its promise as an ecofriendly alternative for mosquito control.
Culex pipiens, mosquito control, Cymbopogon citratus, medicinal plants, hydro-distillation, GC/ MS, larvicidal activity, lethal concentration, energy reserve
