Antioxydant activity and insecticidal effect of Ziziphus lotus hydro-ethanolic extract against mosquito species

Abstract

Plants have always played a vital role in both medical and environmental fields due to their ability to produce biologically active organic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and larvicidal properties of the hydro-ethanolic extract of Ziziphus lotus leaves. The extraction yield of the aerial part of Ziziphus lotus was 21.17%. The antioxidant results showed significant activity, although lower than that of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). The EC50 value for Ziziphus lotus was 56.17 μg/mL, compared to 12.57 μg/mL for Vitamin C, using the DPPH assay to measure free radical scavenging capacity. For the antidiabetic activity, the extract demonstrated greater effectiveness than the reference drug metformin, with an IC50 of 7.70 mg/mL, compared to 83.46 mg/mL for metformin, suggesting potential for blood sugar regulation. Regarding larvicidal activity, the extract showed promising natural insecticidal effects against Culiseta longiareolata, a mosquito species commonly found in Algeria, especially in the Tebessa region. Larval mortality increased with higher extract concentrations and longer exposure times. These results highlight the diverse biological potential of Ziziphus lotus extract, making it a promising natural source for medical and environmental applications.