Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils from Zingiber montanum (J. Koenig) Link ex. A. Dietr. against three mosquito vectors

The chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils derived from the leaves and rhizomes of Zingiber montanum (J. Koenig) Link ex. A. Dietr. were reported. The main compounds in the leaf oil were beta-pinene (13.8%), p-phellandrene (11.3%) and alpha-pinene (7.3%) while the rhizome oil was dominated by sabinene (41.1%), terpinen-4-ol (22.7%) and (E)-nerolidol (14.3%). The minimum lethal concentration (larvicidal activity) LC50 of the rhizome oil at 24 h against Aedes albopictus was 35.17 mu g/mL, while LC50 values of 32.20 mu g/mL and 31.12 mu g/mL were obtained against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus respectively. At 48 h the oil displayed larvicidal action with LC50 values of 23.18 mu g/mL, 25.58 mu g/mL and 18.99 mu g/mL respectively towards Ae. albopictus, Ae. Aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. The leaf oil did not exhibit significant mortality and larvicidal action. The results indicate the potential of rhizome essential oil of Z. montanum as a source of larvicidal agent.