Efficacy of Larvicidal Nanoliposomes Containing Essential Oils of <i>Salvia rosmarinus</i> Spenn. and <i>Citrus limon</i> L. Against Field Strain <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i>

ABSTRACT In this study, the larvicidal potential of essential oils (EOs) from Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (1825) and Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. (1768) was investigated, both in their crude form and encapsulated in nanoliposomes (NLs). EOs were extracted using hydro‐distillation with a clevenger apparatus, and NLs were synthesized through the ethanol injection method. Chemical profiling by GC–MS identified 1,8‐cineole and camphor as the major constituents of S. rosmarinus EO, and limonene and β‐pinene in C. limon EO. The NLs displayed monodispersity, with average particle sizes measuring 401 nm (PDI 0.22) and 487 nm (PDI 0.23), and zeta potentials of −24.2 mV and −23.8 mV, indicating good stability. Both EOs exhibited strong larvicidal potential against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae with significant variation in larval mortality across different concentrations ( p &lt; 0.001) and among the various formulations tested. S. rosmarinus EO‐loaded NLs exhibited greater efficacy (LC50 = 118.17 ppm) compared to the crude EO (LC50 = 155.73 ppm), whereas the C. limon EO‐loaded NLs exhibited slightly lower activity relative to crude EO, likely due to slower release (∼71% in 24 h vs. ∼93% for S. rosmarinus ). In conclusion, separately encapsulated S. rosmarinus and C. limon NLs are effective larvicides against field strain C. quinquefasciatus larvae.