EFFECTIVENESS OF TAHONGAI LEAF EXTRACT (Kleinhovia hospita Linn) AS Aedes aegypti LARVICIDE
Abstract
Dengue fever continues to pose a major global threat among mosquito-borne illnesses, with a particularly high burden in tropical regions like Indonesia. The continuous rise in infection rates underscores the necessity for eco-friendly mosquito control methods. In this context, plant-derived larvicides offer a compelling substitute for conventional chemical insecticides owing to their ecological safety and natural breakdown properties.This research investigated the larvicidal potential of Tahongai (Kleinhovia hospita Linn.) leaf extract on 3rd instar Aedes aegypti larvae to identify its optimal effective dosage. Conducted as a laboratory experiment, the trial tested five distinct extract strengths—10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/100 mL—alongside standard positive and negative control setups. Larval death rates were recorded following a 24-hour incubation period. Data were evaluated using the Shapiro–Wilk test for normality, followed by the Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests, setting statistical significance at $p < 0.05$. The findings revealed a direct correlation between higher extract concentrations and increased larval mortality. Specifically, mortality rates reached 5%, 11%, 26%, 37%, and 52% across the 10 to 50 mg/100 mL treatment spectrum, respectively. While the positive control achieved complete (100%) mortality, the negative control exhibited zero fatalities. Statistical evaluation via the Mann–Whitney test confirmed that every extract group differed significantly from the negative control ($p < 0.05$), while the Kruskal–Wallis test demonstrated marked variation across the overall treatment range ($p < 0.001$).Although the 50 mg/100 mL dose yielded the strongest larvicidal response, it fell short of the World Health Organization’s benchmark requiring a minimum 90% kill rate for field effectiveness. In summary, Kleinhovia hospita Linn. leaf extract displays dose-dependent larvicidal action against Aedes aegypti and holds promise as a sustainable bio-larvicide, though further refinement is essential to boost its potency.