Larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical profile and the larvicidal activity of the essential oil (OE) of the leaves of Citrus limettioides Tanaka against the larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The OE was extracted by hydrodistillation at 100 C for 3h, with chemical characterization through gas chromatography coupled and mass spectrometry (CG-EM). In the toxicity test, Artemia salina Leach mortality for the action of essential oil was verified by the Reed & Muench method and the mortality of Aedes aegypti larvae by the Probit method. The toxicity test evaluated the lethality of OE compared to Aedes aegypti, obtaining an LC50 of199.5 mg L-1, being classified as moderately toxic. The larvicidal activity of the LE presented a LC50 of 30.45 mg L-1, classified as active. The results obtained indicate that the studied EO has chemical constituents that present satisfactory larvicidal activity, proving to be efficient in the combat and control of Aedes aegypti larvae.