Efficacy of the Combination of Arrowroot Rhizome (Maranta Arundinacea L.), Neem Leaves (Azadirachta Indica A. Juss.), and Malunggay Leaves (Moringa Oleifera Lam.) as an Herbal Larvipod Against Aedes Aegypti Larvae

The Aedes aegypti is the primary vector that causes dengue worldwide. The goal of the study is to evaluate the combination of three plant extracts for its larvicidal activity. Arrowroot also contains various bioactive compounds typical of plants in the Marantaceae family, which may include phenolics and flavonoids, contributing to its potential health benefits and larvicidal properties in herbal formulations. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (neem leaves) contained azadirachtin, a potent pesticidal compound, while Moringa oleifera Lam. (malunggay leaves) had flavonoids that contributed to larvicidal activity. This study evaluated the larvicidal effectiveness of combined extracts from these plants as an Herbal LarviPod at concentrations of 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% over three varied time intervals. The study reported mortality rates of 56.66%, 60%, 70%, and 86.66% against I to IV instars of Aedes aegypti larvae after 48 hours. Larvicon achieved complete mortality, while PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) with excipients showed no mortality. The 70% Herbal LarviPod showed moderate cytotoxicity, resulting in 30 deaths among 30 brine shrimp after 24 hours. Complete dissolution of the PVA pod occurred after 48 hours, indicating effective distribution of the active ingredients. Cold storage (2-8°C) preserved Herbal LarviPod efficacy, while storage at 30-35°C caused degradation. In distilled water, the PVA film dissolved within 24 hours, and a similar timeline was observed with oils or stagnant water. Statistical analysis (two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD post-hoc test) showed no significant difference in larvicidal effectiveness between the Herbal LarviPod and the commercial Larvicon larvicide. The F- value was 0.658 with a p-value of 0.638, indicating that both performed similarly among treatments.