Genotoxic effects of plant extracts on Anopheles gambiae: a comet assay study

The increasing resistance of Anopheles gambiae to synthetic insecticides necessitates alternative vector control strategies, including plant-derived compounds. While previous studies have focused on the larvicidal and adulticidal effects of botanical extracts, their genotoxic potential remains poorly understood. This study evaluated DNA damage in A. gambiae exposed to methanol, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts of Eucalyptus citriodora, Azadirachta indica, and Albizia lebbeck using the alkaline comet assay. Adult female mosquitoes were exposed to 300 ppm of each extract for 24 hours, after which midgut cells were isolated and analyzed for DNA fragmentation. Results indicated significant solvent-dependent genotoxicity, with methanol extracts causing the highest DNA damage (78.6±3.8% tail DNA for E. citriodora, *p*<0.001). Ethyl acetate extracts exhibited the least genotoxicity (18-25% tail DNA). These findings suggest that plant-derived insecticides can induce substantial DNA alterations in A. gambiae, with implications for vector control strategies and resistance management.