Larvicidal activity of essential oils of Citrus sinensis and Citrus aurantium (Rutaceae) cultivated in Morocco against the malaria vector Anopheles labranchiae (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract Objective To study the larvicidal activity of essential oils of two aromatic and medicinal plants, Citrus aurantium ( C. aurantium ) and Citrus sinensis ( C. sinensis ) (Rutaceae) cultivated in North Eastern Morocco, against the larvae of the malaria vector Anopheles labranchiae ( An. labranchiae ) (Diptera: Culicidae). Methods Biological tests were realized according to a methodology inspired from standard World Health Organization protocol. The mortality counts were made after 24 h and LC 50 and LC 90 values were calculated. Results Bioassays revealed that these oils had remarkable larvicidal properties. The minimum levels necessary to achieve 100% mortality of An. labranchiae larvae were evaluated at 160 mg/L for C. aurantium and 640 mg/L for C. sinensis . Essential oil of C. aurantium remained the most efficient (LC 50 = 22.64 mg/L, LC 90 = 83.77 mg/L), while those of C. sinensis was the least (LC 50 = 77.55 mg/L, LC 90 = 351.36 mg/L). Conclusions These results suggest that the essential oils isolated from Citrus plants have the potential to be used as an ideal ecofriendly approach for the control An. labranchiae .