Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oil of Origanum majorana (Lamiaceae) cultivated in Morocco against Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)

• Main Authors: Fouad El-Akhal, Abdelhakim El Ouali Lalami, Yassine Ez Zoubi, Hassane Greche, Raja Guemmouh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-09-01
• Series: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Subjects: Essential oil; Origanum majorana; Culex pipiens; Larvicidal activity; Morocco; Fez
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169115301003
• ISSN: 2221-1691

To evaluate the larvicidal activity of essential oil of Origanum majorana (Lamiaceae) cultivated in Morocco against Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae). Methods: The analysis and the identification of the various constituents of essential oil were carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Biological test was performed according to a standard methodology inspired by the World Health Organization protocol with slight modification. Results: This oil mainly consisted of monoterpene and sesquiterpenes. The majority compounds are 4-terpinene (28.96%), γ-terpinene (18.57%), α-terpinene (12.72%) and sabinene (8.02%). The lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) measured for the essential oil Origanum majorana, were respectively of the order of 258.71 mg/L and 580.49 mg/L. Conclusions: The results could be useful in search for newer, safer, and more effective natural larvicidal agents.