Water purification and larvicidal activity of seed extract, Momordica charantia

This study was designed to evaluate the median Lethal Concentrations of Momordica charantia seed extract against Anopheles stephensi, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus and also analyze the water quality parameter of mosquito bred water. Bioassays were conducted to assess the larvicidal and pupicidal of M. charantia seed extract against An. stephensi, Ae.  aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Their efficacy was tested on twenty five number of the each species with different concentrations of seed extract ranging from 100 ppm to 500 ppm and the mortality was observed after 24 hrs time interval and also water quality parameters such as water color, turbidity and pH were analyzed in the water samples (pre-treatment and post-treatment of seed extract) taken from the breeding sites of mosquitoes. The median Lethal Concentration for A. stephensi was 119.994 ppm, 149.929 ppm, 246.757 ppm, 350.041 ppm and 382.820 ppm for I, II, III, IV Instar and pupae, respectively. Similarly, median Lethal Concentration for A. aegypti was 51.820 ppm (I Instar), 164.843 ppm (II Instar), 228.001 ppm (III Instar), 336.137 ppm (IV Instar) and 354.26 ppm (Pupae) and median Lethal Concentration for C. quinquefasciatus was 80.973 ppm, 146.755 ppm, 239.018 ppm, 333.758 ppm and 370.418 ppm for I, II, III, IV Instar and Pupae, respectively. Water quality parameters of mosquito bred water showed improved qualities in water color, turbidity and pH after the treatment at very low dosage. Overall of this results emphasized that the M. charantia seeds extract to be an effective mosquito control agent and water purification mediator.