Mosquito larvicidal activity of methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate isolated from the leaves of Vitex trifolia Linn

The molecular and crystal structures of methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, a potential mosquito larvicidal compound isolated from the leaves of Vitex trifolia are presented. [Display omitted] • A mosquito larvicidal compound, methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate was isolated from Vitex trifolia. • The compound was evaluated against early 4th instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. • Crystal structure of the compound is reported for the first time from natural source. • Findings can be better explored for the control of mosquito population. The vector-borne diseases caused by mosquitoes are one of the major health problems in many countries especially in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The resistance of mosquitoes to synthetic chemicals and environmental toxicity created by the chemicals raised the demand for finding of alternate natural molecules that control mosquito. In the present study, a crystalline compound methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate was isolated from the methanol extract of Vitex trifolia leaves and it was identified by 1H and 13C NMR and single crystal X-ray diffractometer. The larvicidal potential of the isolated compound was evaluated against early 4th instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti. The compound exhibited 100% larval mortality of both the mosquitoes at 20ppm with LC50 values of 5.77 and 4.74ppm against C. quinquefasciatus and A. aegypti, respectively. The methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, which is reported for the first time to our best of knowledge from V. trifolia can be better explored for the control of mosquito population.