Larvicidal activities of the kaurane diterpenes from the fruit of Xylopia aethiopica (A. Dunal) Rich

Abstract

Xylopia aethiopica (Annonaceae) is a slim, tall, evergreen, aromatic tree. The plant is used in traditional medicine for managing various ailments including sore, fever, asthma, stomach-aches and rheumatism. The wood is exceptionally hard and known to be resistant to termite attack. The fruit methanolic extract was active against Aedes aegypti and Musca domestica larvae. This study reports the activity of five known kaurane diterpenes isolated from the methanolic extract of the dried fruit against the larvae of A. aegypti and M. domestica. Kaur-16-en-19-oic acid was the most active and could be further developed as larvicide against these vectors in the control of the diseases they transmit.

Keywords: Xylopia aethiopica, kaurane diterpenes, Aedes aegypti, Musca domestica, kaur-16-en-19-oic acid