Phytochemical Screening and Larvicidal Assessment of Bellyache Bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia) Leaf Extracts Against Culex quinquefasciatus Larvae

The development of resistance by Culex mosquitoes to synthetic insecticides has necessitated the continued search for alternative ones from plants. This study screened the preliminary qualitative phytochemicals and assessed the larvicidal efficacy of extracts of J. gossypiifolia leaf against third and fourth stage Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. The J. gossypiifolia was screened for the presence of phytochemicals using standard methods. After twenty-four (24) hours post exposure of both third and fourth stage C. quinquefasciatus larvae against different concentrations, (2.0mg/ml, 4.0mg/ml, 6.0mg/ml, 8.0mg/ml and 10 mg/ml) of various extracts. It showed that larval mortality increases significantly (p