A novel herbal formulation against dengue vector mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus

The objective of this study was to develop a herbal formulation to control dengue vector mosquitoes. PONNEEM, a novel herbal formulation prepared using the oils of neem (Azadirachta indica), karanj (Pongamia glabra) and their extracts, was tested for larvicidal, ovicidal and oviposition deterrent activities against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus at 1, 0.5, 0.3 and 0.1 ppm concentrations. Cent percent larvicidal and ovicidal activities were observed at 0.1 ppm in the two mosquito species under laboratory and sunlight-exposed conditions up to 12 months from the date of manufacture. Oviposition deterrent activity of 69.97% and 71.05% was observed at 1 ppm concentration of PONNEEM against A. aegypti and A. albopictus, respectively. Reduction in enzyme levels for alpha-esterase was 0.089 +/- 0.008 and 0.099 +/- 0.140 mu g napthol produced/min/mg larval protein; for beta-esterase, it was 0.004 +/- 0.009 and 0.001 +/- 0.028 mu g napthol produced/min/mg larval protein; for glutathione S-transferase, it was 10.4814 +/- 0.23 and 11.4811 +/- 0.21 mu mol/min/mg larval protein and for total protein, it was 0.177 +/- 0.010 and 0.008 +/- 0.005 mg/individual larva in treated groups of A. aegypti and A. albopictus, respectively. The nontarget organisms such as Gambusia affinis and Diplonychus indicus were not affected. No mortality was observed in control. PONNEEM can be used effectively for the management of human vector mosquitoes.