The Efficiency of Ethanolic Extract of Ocimum basilicum Leaves and Flowers agiainst Mosquito Larvae

Mosquito control remains a powerful method to control mosquito-transmitted diseases. Focusing on early stages is very important for many reasons because they are easy to handle, significantly affected by ambient environmental influences, natura.032.0l, and chemically toxic. The current study was aimed to examine the chemical components and larvicidal effect of Ethanolic extract of O. basilicum leaves and flowers on mosquito larvae. Fresh Ocimum basilicum was collected, dried in the shade for one week, and extracted with ethanol. The larvae were placed in plastic containers and bioassayed according to the protocol approved by WHO. After 24 hours of the recovery period, mortality percentage was recorded. Dead larvae were examined under a microscope to observe any morphological changes. The statistical analysis using SPSS program version 19 was done to determine Probit data. The phytochemical investigation of O. basilicum leaves presented many components such as flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, and steroids, whereas alkaloids, saponins, and terpenoids were absent. Moreover, O. basilicum flowers showed the presence of only tannins, terpenoids, steroids, and flavonoids, but not Saponins, glycosides alkaloids. The action of leaves and flower extracts were given LC50 values of 17.78 ppm, 16.98 ppm, 15.48 ppm, and 15,84 and LC95 values were 56.23 ppm, 64.56 ppm, 66.06 ppm, and 50.11 ppm against larvae of Anopheles. Arabiensis and Culex. quinquefasciatus, respectively. Moreover, when treated with the ethanolic extract, mosquito larvae showed some morphological changes, such as decoloration and alimentary canal deformity.