Larvicidal activity of Allmania nodiflora (node flower allmania)

Researchers at the PSG College of Arts & Science in India investigated the phytochemical composition and larvicidal activity of Allmania nodiflora, also known as node flower allmania. They reported their findings in an article published in the International Journal of Herbal Medicine.

• The researchers prepared extracts from A. nodiflora leaves using petroleum ether and ethanol as solvents.
• They then analyzed the phytochemicals present in the extracts using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.
• The researchers reported that both the petroleum ether and ethanol extracts contained alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and steroids.
• However, only the ethanol extract contained tannins.
• Further analysis of the ethanol extract led to the identification of nine compounds, namely, oleic acid, 1,3-methylene-D-arabitol, rimantadine, 2,4,5-trimethyl-1,3-dioxolane, propanamide, phloroglucinol, pterin-6-carboxylic acid, 2,3-epoxyhexanol and L-Gala-L-ido-octose.
• The researchers then used different concentrations (2, 4, 8, 10, 15 and 20 percent) of the A. nodiflora extracts to evaluate their larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that causes dengue fever.
• They observed the highest mortality after 96 hours among larvae treated with the ethanolic extract.
• The lowest mortality was observed among larvae treated with the petroleum ether extract for 24 hours.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that A. nodiflora ethanol extract has potent larvicidal properties against A. aegypti, possibly owing to its tannin content.

Journal Reference:

Bathrasamy R, Arunprasath A. SCREENING OF PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOUNDS AND MOSQUITO LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF ALLMANIA NODIFLORA (L.) R.BR.EX WIGHT (AMARANTHACEAE). International Journal of Herbal Medicine. 2019;7(3):01-06.