LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF RIPE AND UNRIPE FRUIT PEEL OF MUSA PARADISIACA L. AGAINST THE MALARIA VECTOR ANOPHELES STEPHENSI

Objective: To evaluate the larvicidal activity of the ripe and unripe fruit peel of Musa paradisiaca against the larvae of the malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi. There are no published data on the effect of these Musa paradisiaca fruit peel on this mosquito, primarily responsible for indigenous malaria.Methods: The petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and distilled water extracts of the ripe and unripe peel of Musa paradisiaca were tested against the fourth instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi. Larvicidal bioassay followed the standard WHO protocol with slight modifications.Results: The highest larval mortality was found in ethyl acetate ripe peel extracts. The LC50 values of Musa paradisiaca ripe fruit peel extracts of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate against Anopheles stephensi were 3.21, 2.55 mg/ml, while those of unripe fruit peel extracts were 59.82, 48.08 mg/ml, respectively. Distilled water extract showed 14.588 mg/ml for ripe fruit peel and 14.93 mg/ml of unripe fruit peel. The LC90 values of Musa paradisiaca ripe fruit peel extracts of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate against Anopheles stephensi were 4.8, 4.19 mg/ml, while those of unripe fruit peel extracts were 161.1, 122.22 mg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: Musa paradisiaca fruit peels extracts showed promising larvicidal activity. Ripe fruit peels of Musa paradisiaca, which is a waste material, can be exploited as an ideal eco-friendly larvicide, which could be used as an alternative for synthetic pesticides.