Fahd A AL Mekhlafi

Title : Larvicidal potential of gold and silver nanoparticles synthesized using acalypha fruticosa leaf extracts against culex pipiens (Culicidae: Diptera)

Abstract:

Plant secondary metabolites have been recently used for the synthesis of different nanoparticles. The present investigation aimed at evaluating the effect of gold (AuNPs) and silver (AgNPs) nanoparticles synthesized using Acalypha fruticosa leaf extracts to control the mosquito Culex pipiens. The A. fruticosa AuNPs and AgNPs spectra displayed their maximum absorption at 550 nm and 440 nm, respectively. The infrared spectra revealed different functional groups related to different chemical compounds. The larval mortality of aqueous leaf extract of A. fruticosa was 499.54 ppm (LC50) and 1734.06 ppm (LC90) after 24 h of treatment. This study revealed that AuNP (LC50, 30.2 and LC90, 104.83 ppm) and AgNP (LC50, 52.86 and LC90, 157.227 ppm) preparations were highly effective compared to the A. fruticosa extract alone and also more affordable, as a smaller amount was required. The present findings show the potential larvicidal effect of the synthesized AuNPs and AgNPs for the control of mosquito-mediated disease transmission.

Biography:

Dr. Fahd Abdo Ahmed Al-Mekhlafi studied at the Faculty of Agriculture, Sana’a University, Department of Plant Protection, majoring in entomology then he worked as a lecturer at Thamar University, Yemen. He received his master degree from the University of Mosul in 2022 Iraq, and his Ph.D degree in 2010  at King Saud University (KSU), Saudi Arabia. Now I work in the Department of Zoology, Bioproduct Research Chair, College of Science, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. My research interests are in the field of pest control with natural extracts (plant - fungal - bacterial) and the use of insects in forensic medicine. I published many research papers in international journals and participated in a number of international conferences. And a participant in a number of research projects supported by (the National Plan and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Qualifications.