ISSN: 2319-8753 International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology (An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization) Vol. 3, Issue 1, January 2014 Copyright to IJIRSET www.ijirset.com 8632 Mosquito larvicidal activity of Coriandrum sativum and Brassica nigra seed extract against the Filarial vector, Culex quinquefasciatus Say Deepika Thangaraj 1 , Ramanibai Ravichandran 2 and Madhavarani Alwarsamy 3 Research Scholar in Unit of Aquatic biodiversity Of Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-25, India 1 Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-25, India 2 Research Scholar in Unit of Aquatic biodiversity Of Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-25, India 3 ABSTRACT: To determine the larvicidal activity of different solvent of seed extracts of Coriandrum sativum (C.sativum) and Brassica nigra (B.nigra) against filariasis vector Culex quinquefasciatus (C.quinquefasciatus). Larvicidal efficacy of the crude seed extracts of Coriandrum sativum and Brassica nigra with five different solvents like acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol and chloroform was tested against the mosquito larvae of C.quinquefasciatus. The mortality was observed after 24 h under laboratory conditions. Among the tested solvents the maximum efficacy was observed in the acetone extract and methanol extract. The LC 50 and LC 90 values of C.sativum were found to be 14.994 and 66.970 and B.nigra was found to be 322.297 and 8883.465. The Chi-square values were significant at P<0.05 level. From the investigations it was concluded that the crude extract of Coriandrum sativum and Brassica nigra showed an excellent potential for controlling the larval instars of C.quinquefasciatus. Key words: Culex quinquefasciatus, Larvicidal activity, Seed extracts, Probit analysis I. INTRODUCTION Many parts of India, especially cities harbor large number of mosquitoes. The dusk starts with the entry of mosquitoes enmass. Mosquitoes are carriers of a number of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, rift valley fever, filariasis, ect,. They are responsible for the death and illness of millions of people and animals through the transmission of diseases [1]. Most people consider mosquitoes as an annoyance; there tiny assassins have the potential and lethal capacity to kill more than a million victims a year around the world[2]. There are about 90 genera and 2500 species of mosquitoes all over the world. Only female mosquitoes suck blood of man/animals while males feed on the nectar and juice of the flowers. All mosquitoes show amphibious nature during their life time. Female mosquitoes inject saliva into the host before sucking blood. The saliva into the host before sucking blood. The saliva may contain viruses, bacteria, protozoa etc., which cause diseases in the body. Thus diseases are transmitted from one man to another through mosquitoes.