Chemical Composition and Larvicidal Activity of the Essential Oil of Tarchonanthus camphoratus Against Anopheles arabiensis Mosquito Larvae

Abstract

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Tarchonanthus camphoratus was analysed using GC and GC-MS instruments. The major monoterpene was 1,8-cineole (5.4 %), while α-copaene (3.8 %) and δ-cadinene (3.1 %) were major sesquiterpenes. Major oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes identified in the oil were 1,6-octadien-3-ol (4.5 %) and (-)-globulol (3.3 %) respectively. Hexadecanoic acid (3.5 %) was the major fatty acid present. The larvicidal assay of the essential oil against larvae of Anopheles arabiensis mosquito revealed that at a concentration of 300 ppm, the oil caused 100 % mortality after 24 hr exposure with an LC50 value of 78.7 %.