EFFECT OF LEAF CRUDE EXTRACTS OF TARCHONANTHUS CAMPHORATUS (ASTERACEAE), ACALYPHA FRUTICOSA (FABACEA) AND TAGETES MINUTA (ASTERACEAE) ON FECUNDITY OF PHLEBOTOMUS DUBOSCQI

Abstract

This study was carried out to find out the effects of Tarchonanthus Camphoratus (Asteraceae), Acalypha fruticosa  (Fabacea) and  Tagetes minuta  (Asteraceae) crude extracts on the fecundity of  P. duboscqi. The extracts were prepared from the dried aerial parts of  T. camphoratus, A. fruticosa,  and  T. minuta.  Ten female sand flies were aspirated into vials where they were fed on a mixture of the plant extracts and sucrose solution prepared in a ratio  of 1:1. These crude plant extracts were found to reduce the fecundity of  P. duboscqi  significantly (P< 0.05). The extracts were found to reduce the fecundity of P. duboscqi  by 73% (A. fruticosa), 53% (T. minuta) and 26% (T. camphoratus) (P  < 0.05). In conclusion, the higher level of  A. fruticosa,  T. minuta  and  T.  camphoratus  activities would potentially reduce the population of sand flies. This study has provided proof of the effects of these medicinal plants on  the vectorial capacity of sand flies.