Hydroalcoholic extract of Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. leaves affect the development of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Hevilem Letícia Moura do Nascimento Morais, Talita Carneiro Feitosa, João Gustavo Mendes Rodrigues, Maria Gabriela Sampaio Lira, Ranielly Araújo Nogueira, Tássio Rômulo Silva Araújo Luz, Nêuton Silva-Souza, Nerilson Marques Lima, Teresinha de Jesus Aguiar dos Santos Andrade, Guilherme Silva Miranda
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2020
• Subjects: Emergence inhibition of mosquitoes; Flavonoids; Plant extracts; Vectors; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0176-2020; https://doaj.org/article/c534fb8354b44351ba1ed2d643fcef91

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Curtailing the development of the aquatic immature stages of Aedes aegypti is one of the main measures to limit their spread and the diseases transmitted by them. The use of plant extracts is a promising approach in the development of natural insecticides. Thus, this research aimed to characterize the inhibitory effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Caryocar brasiliense leaves on the emergence of adult A. aegypti and the main substances that constitute this extract. METHODS: C. brasiliense leaf extract was prepared by ethanol (70%) extraction. Bioassays using L3 larvae were performed at concentrations of 200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm. We identified the major secondary metabolites present in this extract, and performed toxicity tests on an off-target organism, Danio rerio. RESULTS: We observed a significant delay in the development of A. aegypti larvae mainly at a concentration of 500 ppm, and estimated an emergence inhibition for 50% of the population of 150 ppm. Moreover, the C. brasiliense leaf extracts exhibited low toxicity in D. rerio. The main compounds found in the extract were quercetin, violaxanthin, myricetin3-O-hexoside, methyl-elagic-3-arabinose acid, and isoquercitrin. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we demonstrate the inhibition of mosquito development by the hydroalcoholic extract of C. brasiliense and suggest substances that may act as active principles.