Anthranilate-based insect repellents

Anthranilate-based insect repellents include methyl anthranilate, N,N-dimethylanthranilic acid (DMA), ethyl anthranilate (EA), and butyl anthranilate (BA). Chemically, they are esters of anthranilic acid. These compounds are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as food additives. The compounds repel both fruit flies and mosquitos. The compounds target the same neurons that respond to DEET. The receptors are located on part of the antennae known as the Sacculus.[1][2]

DMA and EA repel mosquitos from feeding on humans, while EA and BA repel them from depositing eggs in water.[3][4]

Identification

The compounds were the only ones among approximately 500,000 that activated those receptors and were from natural sources that were already approved by the FDA for use as food additives.[1]

Applications

The compounds are being evaluated for human use as mosquito repellents and also for use in agriculture.[1]

References
  1. "Scientists find key to more effective DEET alternatives". Gizmag.com. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
  2. Kain, P.; Boyle, S. M.; Tharadra, S. K.; Guda, T.; Pham, C.; Dahanukar, A.; Ray, A. (2013). "Odour receptors and neurons for DEET and new insect repellents". Nature. 502 (7472): 507–512. Bibcode:2013Natur.502..507K. doi:10.1038/nature12594. PMC 3927149. PMID 24089210.
  3. Ali Afify; Bérénice Horlacher; Johannes Roller; C. Giovanni Galizia (2014-07-31). "Different Repellents for Aedes aegypti against Blood-Feeding and Oviposition". PLOS ONE. 9 (7): e103765. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...9j3765A. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103765. PMC 4117642. PMID 25079819.
  4. Afify, A.; Horlacher, B. R. N.; Roller, J.; Galizia, C. G. (2014). "Different Repellents for Aedes aegypti against Blood-Feeding and Oviposition". PLoS ONE. 9 (7): e103765. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...9j3765A. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103765. PMC 4117642. PMID 25079819.
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