Effectiveness of Guava Leaf Extract (Psidium guajava) on Death of Aedes aegypti Mosquito Larvae in Gorontalo City

Abstract

Background: Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is a public health problem characterized by an increasing number of cases year after year, including in Gorontalo City. Vector control efforts in the larval stage are an effective strategy for breaking the life cycle of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The use of natural ingredients such as guava leaves (Psidium guajava) has the potential to be an environmentally friendly larvicide.

Methods: This type of laboratory experimental research with an equivalent control group research design using guava leaves with concentrations of 10%, 12,5%, and 15% with variations in observation time of 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours. The research sample was 750 instar III larvae divided into treatment and control groups. Data analysis used the Two Way ANOVA test.

Results: The results of the study showed significant differences in larval mortality across observation time variations (4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours) across all treatments. Guava leaf extract showed a difference between observation times (p-value = 0,000), with variations in observation time of 4 hours versus 8 hours (p-value = 0,000), 4 hours versus 24 hours (p-value = 0,024), and 8 hours versus 12 hours (p-value = 0,002).

Conclusion: For the community to utilize guava leaves as an environmentally friendly natural larvicide alternative and as an effort to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito population.

KEYWORDS: Guava, Larva, Aedes aegypti, Dengue Fever