Toxicity studies of nanofabricated palladium against filariasis and malaria vectors

The present study was carried out to establish the biofabrication of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) using the plant leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia Miers and its toxicity studies on the larvae of filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus Say and malaria vector, Anopheles subpictus Grassi. The biofabricated PdNPs were characterized by using UV-visible spectrum, FTIR, XRD, FESEM, EDX and HRTEM. HRTEM confirmed the PdNPs were slightly agglomerated and spherical in shape and the average size was 16 nm. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis result revealed that the major constituent present in the T. cordifolia leaf extract is 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (31.79%) whereas the minor compounds are 1-hexadecanol (7.97%), 1-octadecanol (7.70%), 1-eicosanol (6.85%), behenic alcohol (5.36%), 1-tetradecene (6.22%), cyclotetradecane (6.23%), 1-hexadecene (7.97%), 1-octadecene (7.70%), 1-eicosene (6.85%), and 1-docosene (5.36%). T. cordifolia leaf extract exhibited the larvicidal activity against the fourth instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus and A. subpictus with the values of LC50 = 59.857 and 54.536 mg/L; LC90 = 113.445 and 108.940 mg/L, respectively. The highest toxicity was observed in the biofabricated PdNPs against the fourth instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus and A. subpictus with the values of LC50 = 6.090 and 6.454 mg/L; LC90 = 13.689 and 13.849 mg/L, respectively. Concerning non-target effects, Poecilia reticulata were exposed to PdNPs for 24 h and did not exhibit any noticeable toxicity. Overall, our findings strongly suggest that PdNPs is a perfect ecological and inexpensive approach for the control of filariasis and malaria vectors.