CHEMICAL PROFILE AND LARVICIDAL POTENTIAL AGAINST AEDES AEGYPTI OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL NANOEMULSION ZINGIBER OFFICINALE

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of Zingiber officinale essential oil and evaluate the larvicidal activity of its nanoemulsion against Aedes aegypti larvae. Methods: The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Nanoemulsions were prepared by the phase inversion method using Tween 20 as surfactant. Larvicidal activity was assessed against third- and fourth-instar larvae of A. aegypti, with mortality recorded after 24 hours and LC₅₀ values determined by Probit analysis. Results: GC-MS analysis identified 45 compounds, representing 98.06% of the total oil composition, with α-zingiberene (27.49%), β-sesquiphellandrene (13.16%), ar-curcumene (11.21%), α-farnesene (6.91%), and β-bisabolene (5.58%) as the major constituents. The nanoemulsion exhibited significant larvicidal activity, with an LC₅₀ value of 56.33 ± 5.14 mg/L and a high coefficient of determination (R² = 0.9911), confirming the dose-dependent effect. Conclusion: The Z. officinale essential oil nanoemulsion presents a promising larvicidal profile against A. aegypti, attributed to the high content of bioactive sesquiterpenes and the enhanced bioavailability provided by nanoemulsification. These findings position the nanoemulsion as a potential natural, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative for integrated vector control of arbovirus-transmitting mosquitoes.