LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI OF MICROCAPSULES OF PIMENTA DIOICA ESSENTIAL OIL

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the larvicidal activity of microcapsules containing Pimenta dioica essential oil against Aedes aegypti and characterize its chemical composition. Methods: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation from leaves collected in Maranhão, Brazil, and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. Microcapsules were prepared by ionic gelation using sodium alginate and calcium chloride. Larvicidal activity was assessed against third and fourth instar A. aegypti larvae, with LC₅₀ determined by Probit analysis. Results: GC-MS analysis revealed a predominance of eugenol (78.96%) and chavicol (8.78%), confirming the "eugenol-rich" chemotype. The microcapsules exhibited significant larvicidal activity with an LC₅₀ of 53.99 ± 9.33 mg/L and a high correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9895), indicating a strong dose-response relationship. Conclusion: P. dioica essential oil microcapsules demonstrated promising larvicidal activity against A. aegypti, positioning themselves as a natural alternative for mosquito-borne disease control. Further studies on formulation optimization, field stability, and toxicity are necessary for practical application.