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. While the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some of these compounds for use as food additives, cinnamyl anthranilate is banned by the FDA. The compounds repel both fruit flies and mosquitos, and target the same neurons that respond to DEET. The receptors are located on part of the antennae known as the sacculus.
DMA and EA repel mosquitos from feeding on humans, while EA and BA repel them from depositing eggs in water.
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.
Applications
The compounds are being evaluated for human use as mosquito repellents and also for use in agriculture.
References
- "Food Additive Status List". US Food and Drug Administration. 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ "Scientists find key to more effective DEET alternatives". Gizmag.com. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-04.
- 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.
- 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.