Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Solanum mammosum L. (Solanaceae) fruit extract and their larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

PLoS One. 2019 Oct 31;14(10):e0224109. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224109. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The family of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) contains several species of major public health relevance due to their role as vectors of human disease. One of these species, Aedes aegypti, is responsible for the transmission of some of the most important vector-borne viruses affecting humankind, including dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika. Traditionally, control of Ae. aegypti and other arthropod species has relied on the use of a relatively small diversity of chemical insecticides. However, widespread and intensive use of these substances has caused significant adverse environmental effects and has contributed to the appearance of pesticide-resistant populations in an increasing number of locations around the world, thereby dramatically reducing their efficiency. Therefore, it becomes urgent to develop novel alternative tools for vector control. In that context, our study aimed at evaluating the insecticidal activity against Ae. aegypti of aqueous extracts obtained from the fruits of Solanum mammosum L., as well as silver nanoparticles synthesized using aqueous extracts from this plant species (SmAgNPs). To perform the test, third instar Ae. aegypti larvae were exposed to increasing concentrations of plant extract and SmAgNPs for 24 h. Our results suggest that both the aqueous extract and SmAgNPs were toxic to the larvae, with SmAgNPs displaying a much higher level of toxicity than the extract alone, as reflected in their LC50 values (0.06 ppm vs 1631.27 ppm, respectively). These results suggest that both S. mammosum extracts and SmAgNPs exhibit noteworthy larvicidal activity, and should be further explored as potential source of alternative tools in the fight against insect vectors of human disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aedes*
  • Animals
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Green Chemistry Technology
  • Insecticides / chemical synthesis
  • Insecticides / chemistry
  • Larva / drug effects*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Solanum / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Insecticides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Water
  • Silver

Grants and funding

This study was performed in part with funds from the following sources: MN received grant N13409 from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (website: www.puce.edu.ec). FP received grant O13083 from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (website: www.puce.edu.ec). All bioassays were performed using the infrastructure available at the Center for Research on Health in Latin America, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. Nanoparticle characterization was performed with technical support provided by Universidad de las Islas Baleares´ Chemistry Department (Organic Chemistry Area) and ESPE´s Laboratory for Nanomaterial Characterization. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. There was no additional external funding received for this study.