Mosquito larvicidal potential of some extracts obtained from the marine organisms prawn and sea cucumber

303-306The larvicidal potential of two marine organisms was investigated by testing their non-polar to polar organic extracts against mosquito Culex pipens fatigans. In the present investigation the non-polar petroleum ether extract of prawn Nematopalaemon. tenuipes, Hendersen and polar methanol extract of sea cucumber Holothuria scabra, Jaeger body wall were found to be effective against mosquito larvae. The preliminary chemical analysis showed the presence of steroids in the active extract of prawns, whereas the presence of saponins in the active extract of sea cucumber body wall. In this context, the observed mosquito larvicidal activity could be attributed to the presence of steroids and saponins. In summary, this investigation explores the importance of marine organisms as a valuable resource for the discovery of novel insecticidal molecules