Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils from Nepeta cadmea Boiss. and Pimpinella anisum L. on the larvae of Culex pipiens L.

Abstract

Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is an important vector of West Nile virus in many parts of the world. In this research, the essential oils obtained from Nepeta cadmea Boiss. (endemic for Turkey) and Pimpinella anisum L. were examined for larvicidal activity against second-third instar larvae of Cx. pipiens. The essential oils were distilled from aerial parts of N. cadmea and seeds of P. anisum by water distillation. The chemical composition of these oils was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The lethal concentration 50 and 90 values of these essential oils were 28.7 and 49.51 ppm, and 39.82 and 74.57 ppm, respectively. As a result, both essential oils were found highly toxic to larvae of Cx. pipiens. Our results showed that the essential oils obtained from N. cadmea and P. anisum may be suitable for the development of potential new botanical insecticides.