Fatty Acid Composition and Toxicity of Melia azedarach L. Fruits against Malaria Vector Anopheles stephensi

Abstract

The fruit of <em>Melia azedarach</em> L. (Meliaceae) was extracted with hexane, and its fatty acids methyl ester was analyzed using GC/MS. Thirteen components representing 85.1% of the total extract were identified. The major components identified were methyl palmitate (18.8%), methyl linolenate (16.1%) and methyl linoleate (9.8%). The fruits' extract had a LC₅₀ of 5.5 ppm against the larvae of <em>Anophles stephensi</em>.