BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS L EXTRACTS ON CULEX PIPIENS MOLETHUS AND MUSCA DOMESTICA

The two most hazardous vectors for humans are Culex pipiens molethus and Musca domestica. Several environmental and health issues have emerged because of the overuse of chemical pesticides. This study sought to determine the efficacy of aqueous, alcohol, and oil extracts of Citrullus colocynthis L. plant under in vitro conditions using different concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg/mL) on the various stages of Culex pipiens molethus and Musca domestica. It also sought to identify natural biological alternatives to synthetic insecticides. The current research revealed that the adult and juvenile stages of mosquitoes and house flies were considerably impacted by the extracts of bitter melon. Concentrations demonstrated a distinct effect and significantly outperformed the control treatment after 24, 48, and 72 hrs of exposure. Compared to other bitter melon extracts, the impact of the oil extract of C. colocynthis was superior. At a dosage of 20 mg/ml, oil extract treatment significantly reduced hatchability and increased mortality in the second and fourth larval stages of C. pipiens molethus. The outcomes also demonstrated the superiority of the oil extract of C. colocynthis in influencing the different stages of the house fly M. domestica with the same previous concentrations (20, 10,5 mg/mL) on egg productivity (22, 72, 89, 82%) and third larval instar (66, 79, 71, 94, 82.88%) mortality rates, as well as pupae weight rates (0.10, 0.11, 0.100 mg). With the help of the current study's findings, we may suggest using bitter melon extracts, particularly the oil extract, as a potentially effective control measure against mosquitoes and house flies. These naturally occurring extracts, which do not contain any industrial chemicals, are difficult for the insect they are intended to kill to withstand. For the aim of understanding the mechanism of action of these extracts on mosquitoes and house flies, as well as understanding the effect of bitter melon extracts on numerous therapeutic insects in the future, more research is necessary.