Evaluation of the larvicidal activity of essential oil from the species Oenocarpus distichus mart. against Aedes aegypti linnaeus
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Arboviruses comprise a group of infectious diseases caused by viruses transmitted by hematophagous arthropods. Among those of greatest public health relevance are Orthoflavivirus denguei, Orthoflavivirus zikaense, Alphavirus chikungunya, and Orthoflavivirus flavi, predominantly transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The expansion of larval breeding sites driven by urbanization favors the proliferation and dispersal of A. aegypti, contributing to increased disease incidence. Given the persistent challenges in controlling this vector, numerous studies have assessed biological and natural control strategies, particularly the use of plant-derived extracts with potential larvicidal properties. This study evaluated the larvicidal activity of the essential extract from Oenocarpus distichus Mart. under laboratory conditions, aiming to identify compounds with toxicity to A. aegypti larvae. Materials and Methods: Fruits of O. distichus Mart. were obtained from a subsample maintained at the Active Germplasm Bank (AGB) of bacaba palms at Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Belém, Pará. Approximately 6 kg of fruits were selected, washed, frozen, and subsequently lyophilized for essential oil extraction. Larvicidal assays followed the protocol recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2005), which details larval rearing procedures and the preparation and application of test substances. Extract concentrations of 500, 250, 100, 50, and 25 μg/mL were evaluated after 1 h, 24 h, and 48 h of exposure. No significant mortality of A. aegypti larvae was observed at any concentration or exposure period. Conclusion: Under the conditions tested, the extract of O. distichus Mart. did not exhibit larvicidal activity. The absence of detectable biological effects suggests that the extract does not contain active compounds in sufficient concentration to induce larval mortality, at least within the evaluated experimental range.
Source: Brazilian Journal of Development
Institutions: Instituto Evandro Chagas, Universidade do Estado do Pará
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7125594652