Larvicidal properties of simalikalactone D from Quassia africana (Simaroubaceae) Baill and Baill, on the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.

Background: Botanical and microbial insecticides have been increasingly used for the control of mosquito given their efficacy and documented nontoxic effects on non-target organisms. The discovery of new insecticides is imperative because of the development of resistance by the mosquitoes to the readily available insecticides. The aim of this study was therefore to isolate and characterize compounds from a local medicinal plant, Quassia africana Baill and Baill (Simaroubaceae) that were toxic to Anopheles gambiae.