Larvicidal potential of gold and silver nanoparticles synthesized using Acalypha fruticosa leaf extracts against Culex pipiens (Culicidae: Diptera)

[Display omitted] •Culex pipiens is a common mosquito that is a vector of several arboviruses.•Synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles using Acalypha fruticosa leaf extracts.•Larvicidal effect of A. fruticosa nanoparticles for the control Cx pipiens larvae. Plant secondary metabolites have been recently used for the synthesis of different nanoparticles. The present investigation aimed at evaluating the effect of gold (AuNPs) and silver (AgNPs) nanoparticles synthesized using Acalypha fruticosa leaf extracts to control the mosquito Culex pipiens. The A. fruticosa AuNPs and AgNPs spectra displayed their maximum absorption at 550 nm and 440 nm, respectively. The infrared spectra revealed different functional groups related to different chemical compounds. The larval mortality of aqueous leaf extract of A. fruticosa was 499.54 ppm (LC50) and 1734.06 ppm (LC90) after 24 h of treatment. This study revealed that AuNP (LC50, 30.2 and LC90, 104.83 ppm) and AgNP (LC50, 52.86 and LC90, 157.227 ppm) preparations were highly effective compared to the A. fruticosa extract alone and also more affordable, as a smaller amount was required. The present findings show the potential larvicidal effect of the synthesized AuNPs and AgNPs for the control of mosquito-mediated disease transmission.