Mosquitocidal activity of leaf and bark essential oils of Ceylon Cinnamomum zeylanicum

Mosquito control properties of essential oils of leaf and bark of Ceylon Cinnanmonum zeylanicum Blume (Lauraceae) and their eight compounds were investigated against Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles tessellatus and Aedes aegypti. Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark oil showed good knock-down and mortality against A. tessellatus (LD50 0.33 mu g/mL) and C. quinquefasciatus (LD50 0.66 mu g/mL) than leaf oil (LD50 1.03 and 2.1 mu g/mL). Cinnamaldehyde was a major constituent of the bark oil and eugenol in the leaf oil. Cinnamaldehyde and eugenol both were more active against C. quinquefasciatus, A. tessellatus and A. aegypti than the bark and leaf oil. Mosquitocidal activity of cinnamyl acetate against three mosquito species was comparable to that of the Cinnanunnum bark oil, whereas eugenyl acetate was effective on A. tessellatus and C. quinquefasciatus. The other compounds showed less or no activity against mosquitoes tested.