Phytochemistry. 2015 Sep;117:469-75. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.07.004. Epub 2015 Jul 23.
- 1Department
of Biology, State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY
12561, United States. Electronic address: haseltoa@newpaltz.edu.
- 2Department of Biology, State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY 12561, United States.
- 3Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY 12561, United States.
Abstract
Musca domestica L. is a non-biting nuisance fly
that is capable of transmitting a large variety of pathogens to humans
and non-human animals. Natural compounds and their derivatives, which
are often less toxic than entirely synthetic compounds, may be used as
repellents against M. domestica as part of comprehensive pest control
and disease mitigation programs. This work investigates the repellent
properties of the natural compound α-pinene against M. domestica. Adult
house flies of both sexes avoided the volatile plant-derived terpenes
(1S)-(-)-α-pinene 1 and (1R)-(+)-α-pinene 2 in constant air flow
laboratory conditions, with 1 exhibiting a stronger repellent
effect. House flies also avoided tarsal contact with filter paper
saturated with 1. Furthermore, both 1 and 2 are electrophysiologically
active on in situ female house fly antennal preparations. These findings demonstrate that α-pinene exhibits natural baseline repellency against the house fly, elicits a specific physiological response in this fly, and that functional or structural modification of 1 in particular may yield novel fly repellents with desirable properties.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
(1S)-(−) and (1R)-(+)-α-pinene; Electroantennogram; Musca domestica; Repellent; Terpenes; Y-tube olfactometer
- [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
