UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

In this study, the essential oil (EO) of the aerial parts of Foeniculum vulgare Mill (Umbelliferae: Apiaceae) was extracted by hydro-distillation and subsequently, its chemical composition was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) and the profile was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS). Then, its larvicidal potential was evaluated against the larvae of Aedes caspius (Pallas, 1771). Using the CPG-MS analyses fourteen volatile compounds representing 99.22% of the essential oil were identified; namely are: Camphor (38.2%), Fenchone (28.24%) and o-Cymene (11.44%) which were predominant in the EO of F.vulgare. The toxicity of the EO was evaluated, after 24h of exposure time, against the fourth instar larvae of Aedes caspius and the sublethal and lethal concentrations, LC_25, LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were estimated with their confidence limits and their values are 27.65, 37.76 and 70.40 µl respectively. The obtained bioassay results showed that F. vulgare EO exhibited a toxic effect against Ae. caspius larvae with a dose-response relationship. Based on the results of the toxicity of F. vulgare EO, it can be concluded that, the present aromatic plant species showed a significant toxicological effect and could be used as a promising alternative for the mosquito control. This result opens interesting perspectives for its application in the production of a new source of various larvicidal active compounds for controlling mosquito vectors.