Larvicidal benzoquinone from Embelia schimperi

Abstract

Chromatographic analysis of air-dried berries of Embelia schimperi led to the isolation of methyl vilangin (1), which was characterized on the basis of physical and spectroscopic data. The compound was found to be lethal against 2nd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (yellow fever vector) by first stopping the process of metamorphosis from the 2nd instar stage to the other stages and finally causing mortality to the larvae.