Study on components and larvicidal activities of essential oils of different parts of Prangos ferulacea plant against larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi

At the present, biopesticides are in the spotlight due to inflicting of chemical pesticide hazards to humans, livestock, environment as well as the occurrence of the inducing resistance to different groups of insecticides among human and animal disease vectors. The common Persian name of this plant is "Jashir" and more prevalent at foothills of central-northern half of Iran. The plant was collected from foothills of south-eastern of Esfarayen district, North-Khorasan province during the three different seasons to collect fruits, leaves, and stems. The air-dried and ground fruits, leaves and stems of the plant were exposed for 4 h to water distillation using a Clevenger type apparatus. The obtained essential oil was stored at 4 °C until used. Phytochemical analysis of essential oils were performed by mass gas chromatography and chemical components of each part of the plant determined. The bioassay tests were followed by instruction of World Health Organization for the larvae tests on An. stephensi and Cx.quinquefaciatus at logarithmic concentrations of three types of essential oils. The lethal concentrations were estimated by probit regression analysis. GC–MS experiments were revealed the highest amount of cyclic monoterpene including α-phellandrene (α-PA), β-phellandrene and α-pinene in all three EOs extracted from fruits, leaves and stems. The 50% lethal concentration (LC50) of EOs of Prangos ferulacea against third instar larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. stephensi were respectively 1.9521 and 24.2090 ppm for the fruits, 2.7595 and 19.6550 ppm for leaves, and 2.600 and 21.0725 ppm for stems. The potent larvicidal properties were shown by the EOs of different parts of the plant during the bioassay experiments on Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. stephensi . The values of 50% lethal concentration (LC 50 ) of essential oils of this plant showed no significant difference between of fruits, leaves and stems. Considering the important role of this plant in soil and water conservation at natural environment, it is recommended to cultivate the seeds at suitable lands in Esfarayen district in order to provide enough materials for extraction without of damage to natural habitats. This action will provide an opportunity to mass separation of effective constituents for optimal formulation an effective biolarvicide for applying in the breeding places of Culicidae larvae.