Green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Trachyspermum ammi (TA-AgNPs): A potential bioinsecticide against mosquito stages

Nanoparticles synthesized by chemical and physical methods use toxic reducing agents and expensive equipment. This study’s objective is to create silver nanoparticles through an economical and environmentally-friendly green synthesis method, employing Trachyspermum ammi leaf extract as a capping and reducing agent. The green synthesized silver nanoparticles (TA-AgNPs) were characterized by UV/Visible spectrum (absorbance peak-419 nm), Scanning electron microscopy (15–45 nm), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (peak at 3 keV), X-ray diffraction (crystalline nature), and FTIR (strong peak at 3122.96 cm -1 ). Further, the potential of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was subjected against third and fourth larval instar and adult stages of Anopheles stephensi , Aedes aegypti , and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. The entomological assays were conducted by following WHO guidelines (2005, 2022) at the dose concentrations of 0.5 ppm, 5 ppm, 15 ppm, 25 ppm, 35 ppm, 45 ppm (larvicidal), and 5 ppm, 20 ppm, 35 ppm, 55 ppm, 75 ppm, 95 ppm concentrations (adulticidal) of crude extract and TA-AgNPs. After 24 hours of exposure, the TA-AgNPs treated a group of An. stephensi larvae and adults showed 100% death at their highest dosage. TA-AgNPs demonstrated considerable and superior larvicidal and adulticidal action compared to crude extract. A one-way ANOVA with a p < 0.05 yielded highly significant findings across all genera. The values at the data’s LC 50 , LC 90 , and LC 95 endpoints were estimated using the probit plane regression analysis. Compared to Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus , the An. stephensi had the highest acute toxicity. TA-AgNPs offered a potent insecticide for limiting epidemics of mosquito-borne diseases.