Hanna Shafrina Rohma, Hartalina Mufidah, Rian Anggia Destiawan, Dina Trianggaluh Fauziah

Effectiveness of The Larvicide Combination Extract of Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Leaves And Soursop (Annona muricata) Leaves Against Aedes aegypti Larva

Introduction

Effectiveness of the larvicide combination extract of basil (ocimum basilicum) leaves and soursop (annona muricata) leaves against aedes aegypti larva. Assess the effectiveness of basil and soursop leaf extract combination as a natural larvicide against Aedes aegypti larvae, crucial for dengue fever prevention. 20% concentration optimal.

Abstract

Background: Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is an acute febrile illness caused by dengue virus infection which is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. An alternative method that can be used is a vegetable larvicide to eradicate Aedes aegypti larvae. Basil leaf extracts (Ocimum basilicum) and soursop leaves (Annona muricata) contain flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins and essential oils as larvicide compounds. Purpose: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the larvicidal combination of basil (Ocimum basilicum) and soursop (Nnona muricata) leaf extracts against Aedes aegypti larvae at concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. Methods: This type of research is descriptive quantitative research with an experimental design. This study used 6 samples of Aedes aegypti larvae at each concentration. The treatment stage was carried out by adding a combination of basil (Ocimum basilicum) and soursop leaf (Annona muricata) leaf extracts in concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% into an Erlenmeyer flask containing larvae and distilled water. Calculate the number of deaths at 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours. Results: The results of this study showed larval mortality at a concentration of 5%, namely 0 larvae in 30 minutes, 1 larva in 1 hour, 2 larvae in 2 hours and 3 larvae in 3 hours. Larval mortality at a concentration of 10% is 1 larva in 30 minutes, 2 larvae in 1 hour, 3 larvae in 2 hours and 0 in 3 hours. Larval mortality at a concentration of 15% is 2 larvae in 30 minutes, 3 larvae in 1 hour, 1 larva in 2 hours and 0 larvae in 3 hours. Larval mortality at a concentration of 20% was 3 larvae in 30 minutes, 3 larvae in 1 hour and 0 larvae in 2 and 3 hours. Conclusions: The combination of basil (Ocimum basilicum) and soursop leaf (Annona muricata) leaf extracts is most effective as a larvicide at a concentration of 20% with a death time of 30 minutes.

Review

This study tackles a critical public health concern by investigating botanical alternatives for controlling *Aedes aegypti* larvae, the primary vector for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. The authors explore the larvicidal potential of a combined extract from basil (*Ocimum basilicum*) and soursop (*Annona muricata*) leaves, leveraging the known presence of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids in these plants. The objective of identifying an effective natural larvicide is highly pertinent, contributing to the ongoing search for environmentally sustainable and less toxic vector control strategies, thereby reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides. The research employed a descriptive quantitative experimental design, assessing four concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) of the combined extract and observing larval mortality over a 3-hour period. While the study aims to establish a dose-response relationship, a significant methodological weakness lies in the exceptionally small sample size, reportedly using only 6 larvae per concentration. This low number severely compromises the statistical power and generalizability of the findings. Crucially, the absence of both negative (distilled water) and positive (a standard larvicide) control groups prevents a definitive assessment of the extracts' effectiveness and a comparative evaluation against existing control methods. Furthermore, some inconsistencies in the reported results, such as "0 in 3 hours" after earlier recorded deaths for certain concentrations, create ambiguity regarding cumulative mortality and warrant clarification. Despite the methodological limitations, the study concludes that the 20% concentration of the combined extract exhibits the highest effectiveness, inducing larval mortality within 30 minutes. However, this conclusion should be interpreted with considerable caution given the aforementioned constraints. For these promising preliminary findings to be scientifically robust and actionable, future research must significantly increase the sample size and ensure adequate biological replication. The inclusion of appropriate control groups and the application of rigorous statistical analyses (e.g., probit analysis to determine LC50 and LC90 values) are essential. Further investigations into the specific larval instars used, standardized extract preparation protocols, and a deeper exploration of the active compounds and their synergistic mechanisms would substantially enhance the study's scientific rigor and pave the way for a truly viable natural larvicidal product.

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