Summary
This research focuses on insects that are vectors of diseases, and integrating natural alternative vector control methods. Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral diseases worldwide caused by dengue viruses (DENV 1-4). The transmission of dengue is caused by two main Aedes mosquito species: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
Different classes of insecticides used for controlling public health have raised the concern of resistance among mosquitoes, as well as environmental pollution caused by the control measures. The overdependence on synthetic chemical insecticides has led to the rise of insecticide resistance problems which occur among most of the arthropod species including Aedes mosquitoes.
Bio-insecticides have been suggested as a new potential alternative method that can replace synthetic chemical insecticides to overcome these vector problems. Areca catechu nuts have the potential as a new bio-insecticide to combat disease vectors.
With an outstanding record of collaborations with several national universities, our objective is to carry out scientific research that is at the forefront of this field, both nationally and internationally.
Research Activities
A search for alternative natural compounds is necessary to solve the insecticidal resistance problem using pesticides in the larval stage of vector development, as well as creating a chemical-free environment for a healthy society.
Hence, the major focus of this research study is to identify the larvicidal mechanisms, metabolite, antioxidants, and chemical compounds, elucidate their structures from C. ternatea flower and to test their efficacies against early 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The larvicidal activity of Clitoria ternatea flower extracts have evidently affected the early 4th instar larvae of Aedes mosquito vectors. Moreover, the results for nontarget organism tests on guppy fish, Poecilia reticulata, showed no mortality with flower extracts at 2500 mg/L, hence posing no toxic effects on fish. In this study, we have found a total of 16 chemical compounds and 6 chemical compounds have been reported to possess direct insecticidal, larvicidal, and pupicidal effects.
