Mosquito-Larvicidal Potential of Metal and Oxide nanoparticles Synthesized from Aqueous Extract of the Seagrass, Cymodocea serrulata

Mosquitoes are considered to be the deadliest arthropod-vectors, which causes millions of human deaths globally. Presently, the synthesis of Ag, Pd and TiO 2 -nanoparticles (NPs) from the aqueous extracts of Cymodocea serrulata and evaluation of their larvicidal property against 3 different mosquitoes; A. aegypti , C. quinquefasciatus and A. stephensi were performed. The synthesized NPs were characterized by UV–Vis, XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM and Zeta potential analyses. The mosquito-larvicidal efficacy of CS-AgNPs against A. stephensi showed maximum lethal effects with the LC 50 and LC 90 values (µg/mL) of: 2.099 and 36.432 respectively, for 1st instar. CS-PdNPs have shown larvicidal effect against A. stephensi with the LC 50 and LC 90 values (µg/mL) of: 4.010 and 80.827 respectively, for 1st instar. Whereas, for the CS-TiO 2 NPs the LC 50 and LC 90 values against A. stephensi were: 5.052 and 141.428 respectively, for 1st instar. The histological analysis of the CS-AgNPs treated mosquito larvae revealed vacuolation in their adipose, epithelium and muscle tissues. The CS-AgNPs exerted minimal toxic effects to the non-targeted organisms ( Artemia salina and Oithona dissimilis ) with 20.22 and 21.66% mortality respectively, after 48 h. Overall, it is concluded that the C. serrulata synthesized silver nanoparticles could form potential mosquito larvicidal agent.