Insecticidal properties of miracle fruit (Crescentia cujete) leaves against mosquito larvae

Abstract

Mosquito-borne diseases remain a major public health concern globally, with mosquitoes being the primary vector of dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, and Yellow fever. In response to increasing resistance to synthetic larvicides and growing environmental concerns, there is an urgent need to explore alternative, eco-friendly mosquito control strategies. This study investigates the insecticidal properties of Miracle Fruit <i>(Cerescentia cujete)</i> leaves against mosquito larvae. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds such as saponins, tannins, and flavonoids, which are known to possess larvicidal activity. Laboratory bioassays were done using 25% concentration (333.33 ppm) of leaf extracts to determine their efficacy in inducing larval mortality, with significant lethality observed at moderately high concentrations. The findings suggest that <i>C. cujete</i> possesses potent larvicidal properties and has the potential to be developed as a natural and sustainable larvicide. However, further research is recommended to isolate the specific active compounds and evaluate their environmental safety and applicability.