Phytochemical Profile of two Mosquitocidal Plants Collected from Gombe State Reveals a Promising Bioactive Compounds for Malaria Control

Abstract

Mosquitoes are vectors of major diseases including malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and yellow fever. Control efforts, particularly against Anopheles gambiae s.l., rely heavily on synthetic insecticides, but widespread resistance to pyrethroids has emerged as a critical challenge. This study investigated the phytochemical profiles of Hyptis suaveolens and Hyptis spicigera, two traditionally used mosquitocidal plants across Northern Nigeria. Aqueous and methanolic extracts of leaves and roots were subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening using standard methods. Key metabolites identified included alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, tannins, and saponins. Alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids identified have been substantiated to have strong mosquitocidal and antiplasmodial potentials. Quantitative results from H. suaveolens aqueous leaf extract showed terpenoids (4.091 mg/100g), saponins (4.005 mg/100g), and flavonoids (3.882 mg/100g) as dominant compounds. Methanolic leaf extract recorded higher concentrations, with saponins (6.180 mg/100g) and terpenoids (5.351 mg/100g) being prominent. Similarly, H. spicigera aqueous leaf extract revealed cardiac glycosides (2.503 mg/100g) and saponins (2.140 mg/100g), while methanolic root extracts showed flavonoids (2.354 mg/100g) and terpenoids (2.774 mg/100g). Overall, methanolic extracts yielded higher phytochemical concentrations than aqueous ones. The abundance of potent bioactive constituents, especially Alkaloid, flavonoid and Terpenoids in roots and methanolic extracts, underscores the mosquitocidal promise of both species. These findings suggest potential for developing environmentally friendly, plant-based alternatives to synthetic insecticides in malaria vector control.

Keywords: Phytochemical profile, Mosquitocidal, Gombe, Bioactive Compounds