LARVA, LALABAN KA BA?: UTILIZATION OF SODIUM BICARBONATE WITH PIPER NIGRUM AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COMMERCIAL LARVICIDE

Abstract

Between January and June 2023, there were 72,333 reported dengue cases nationwide, with 249 recorded deaths. In response, the Department of Health implemented the “4S Program,” which includes strategies to raise awareness and prevent disease transmission, such as searching for and destroying mosquito breeding grounds. Larvicides, which are used to control mosquito populations, have seen reduced use due to high costs, concerns about toxicity and environmental impact, and the potential for resistance with prolonged use. This study aimed to develop an alternative larvicide that is more affordable and effective than commercial larvicides by utilizing black pepper (Piper nigrum) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). The researchers formulated an alternative larvicide using black pepper (Piper nigrum) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). The black pepper was sun-dried, ground, soaked in ethanol, and subjected to rotary evaporation. Mosquito larvae were randomly collected and grouped into seven (7) containers, each containing 750 ml of tap water and 15 larvae. The formulation consisted of 5 g of baking soda dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water and combined with 0.1–0.5 ml of black pepper ethanolic extract. Two groups served as control groups. The results showed that Group E, containing a 50% concentration of black pepper (Piper nigrum) ethanolic extract combined with 10 ml of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) solution, exhibited a 100% mortality rate within 6 hours. This was followed by Group D with a 40% concentration, which showed a 93.33% mortality rate within 6 hours and achieved complete larval elimination in 6 hours and 30 minutes. Group C, with a 30% concentration, demonstrated an 86.67% mortality rate within 6 hours and reached complete elimination in 6 hours and 50 minutes. Group B, with a 20% concentration, resulted in an 80% mortality rate within 6 hours and complete elimination in 7 hours and 35 minutes. Group A, with a 10% concentration of black pepper ethanolic extract combined with 10 ml of baking soda solution, showed a 40% mortality rate within 6 hours and required 10 hours and 35 minutes to fully eliminate the larvae. The positive control group using Lavectan exhibited a knockdown time of 24 hours with a 0% mortality rate within 6 hours, while the negative control group required 48 hours and also showed a 0% mortality rate within the same timeframe. The findings suggest that the 50% concentration of black pepper (Piper nigrum) ethanolic extract combined with 10 ml of sodium bicarbonate solution can be effectively used as a larvicide against mosquito larvae. This concentration demonstrated efficacy comparable to that of commercial larvicides. However, lower concentrations of 40%, 30%, 20%, and 10% showed significant differences in efficacy in terms of mortality rate and knockdown time.