Rearing of Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti larvae in water at concentrations less than the critical concentration for inhibition of adult emergence in 50% of treated larvae (EC 50 ) of the ethyl acetate fractions of Calophyllum inophyllum seed and leaf, Solanum suratense and Samadera indica leaf extracts and the petrol ether fraction of Rhinocanthus nasutus leaf extract, from hatching to emergence significantly decreased the fecundity of the mosquitoes and the hatchability of their eggs. At the highest concentration of 50% EC 50 of the extracts, the decrease in the fecundity over the control ranged between 62.4 and 87.4%. Sterility index of the mosquitoes reared in the media with the different extracts at this concentration ranged between 82.8 and 93.3%.

Effects of plant extracts on fecundity and fertility of mosquitoes

The naturally occurring coumarins.

Antimicrobial activity of xanthones from Calophyllum species, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

The Calophyllum genus (Clusiaceae) is composed of ca. 200 species, with a pantropical distribution. Some species are used as medicinal agents to treat a large number of diseases, including gastric ulcers, infections, pain, tumors, and inflammatory processes, among others. A review of the literature regarding the chemical and biological aspects of these plants indicates cytotoxic activity against several cell lines, inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, antisecretory and cytoprotective properties, antinociceptive, molluscicidal and antimicrobial effects, etc., related particularly to the presence of coumarins, xanthones, flavonoids, and triterpenes. This review, therefore, deals with the chemistry, and pharmacology or biology of the main plants belonging to the genus Calophyllum, with particular emphasis on C. brasiliense, studied by our research group.

Gishanthi P.K Marasinghe

Papers

Distribution of pyranocoumarins in Calophyllum cordato-oblongum.

A chromene acid from Calophyllum cordato-oblongum