F. Gricilda Shoba

The Present study was carried out to study the larvicidal efficacy of Aedes aegypti on ethanol, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and aqueous extracts of Hemidesmus indicus root. The root extract of Hemidesmus indicus with different solvents were tested for their phytochemical constituents. The analysis revealed the presence of Steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, and carbohydrates in most prominent amount. Larval mortality was observed and recorded after 24, 48, 72 hours exposure periods. All the tested extracts showed moderate to good larvicidal activities. However, the maximum larval mortality was in aqueous extract of Hemidesmus indicus root observed at 72 hours. The LC50 and LC90 values of  Hemidesmus indicus root against the 1st and 2nd , 3rd and 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegypti LC50136.74,LC90 259.16 ppm and LC50 101.09, LC90 198.92 ppm respectively. These results revealed that larvicidal properties of Hemidesmus indicus root and encourages further effort to investigate the bioactive compounds in those extracts that might possess good larvicidal properties when it will be isolated in pure form.