Nootkatone Explained

Nootkatone is an organic compound, a sesquiterpenoid, which means that it is a C15 derivative that also contains an oxygen-containing functional group (a ketone). It is the most valuable aroma compound of grapefruit.[1] Nootkatone was originally isolated from the wood of the Alaskan yellow cedar, Cupressus nootkatensis. The species name, nootkatensis, is derived from the language of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth people of Canada (formerly referred to as the Nootka people).[2]

Production

Nootkatone is produced commercially from valencene, another more abundant sesquiterpene.[3] Allylix (Now Lallemand of Montreal, PQ), developed a fermentation process to nootkatone.[4] [5]

Mechanism of action

As is true of other plant terpenoids, nootkatone activates α-adrenergic type 1 octopamine receptor (PaOA1) in susceptible arthropods, causing fatal spasms.[6]

Uses

Nootkatone in spray form is an effective repellent or insecticide against deer ticks[7] [8] and lone star ticks.[9] [8] It is also an effective repellent or insecticide against mosquitos, and may repel bed bugs, head lice, Formosan termites,[10] and other insects.[11] It is an environmentally friendly insecticide because it is a volatile essential oil that does not persist in the environment.[11] It was approved by the U.S. EPA for this use on August 10, 2020.[12] Its ability to repel ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects may last for hours, in contrast to other plant-based oil repellants like citronella, peppermint oil, and lemongrass oil.[13] It is nontoxic to humans, is an approved food additive,[11] and is commonly used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.[7] The CDC has licensed patents to two companies to produce an insecticide and an insect repellant.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Furusawa . Mai . Toshihiro Hashimoto . Yoshiaki Noma . Yoshinori Asakawa . Highly Efficient Production of Nootkatone, the Grapefruit Aroma from Valencene, by Biotransformation . Chem. Pharm. Bull. . 53 . 11 . 1513–1514 . November 2005 . 10.1248/cpb.53.1513 . 16272746 . free .
  2. Web site: Cupressus nootkatensis / Nootka cypress | Conifer Species.
  3. 10.1038/nature17431 . Scalable and sustainable electrochemical allylic C–H oxidation . 2016 . Horn . Evan J. . Rosen . Brandon R. . Chen . Yong . Tang . Jiaze . Chen . Ke . Eastgate . Martin D. . Baran . Phil S. . Nature . 533 . 7601 . 77–81 . 27096371 . 4860034 . 2016Natur.533...77H .
  4. Web site: Cost effective fermentation replaces costly extraction . Allylix. 10 August 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120325001759/http://www.allylix.com/content/nootkatone . 2012-03-25.
  5. News: Bigelow. Bruce. Nootkatone, So A-peeling in Grapefruit, is Repellent to Mosquitoes and Ticks. 10 August 2012. xconomy.com. 2011-04-28.
  6. Book: 10.1021/bk-2018-1289.ch012. Plant Terpenoids Modulate α-Adrenergic Type 1 Octopamine Receptor (PaOA1) Isolated from the American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Advances in the Biorational Control of Medical and Veterinary Pests. ACS Symposium Series. 2018. Norris. Edmund J.. Gross. Aaron D.. Kimber. Michael J.. Bartholomay. Lyric. Coats. Joel. 1289. 219–235. 9780841233591.
  7. News: Lignin + Nootkatone = Dead Ticks . Jan Suszkiw . January 2011 . USDA.
  8. Jordan . Robert A. . Schulze . Terry L. . Dolan . Marc C. . Efficacy of Plant-Derived and Synthetic Compounds on Clothing as Repellents Against Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) . 10.1603/ME10241 . Journal of Medical Entomology . 49 . 101–106. January 2012. 22308777. 1 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170618123116/http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA557262. live. June 18, 2017. free.
  9. Dolan . MC. . Jordan . RA. . Schulze . TL. . Schulze . CJ. . Manning . MC. . Ruffolo . D. . Schmidt . JP. . Piesman . J. . Karchesy . JJ. . Ability of two natural products, nootkatone and carvacrol, to suppress Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) in a Lyme disease endemic area of New Jersey . J Econ Entomol . 102 . 6 . 2316–24 . Dec 2009 . 10.1603/029.102.0638. 20069863 . 2731012 .
  10. Zhu BC, Henderson G, Chen F, Maistrello L, Laine RA . Nootkatone is a repellent for Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) . J Chem Ecol . 27 . 3 . 523–31 . March 2001 . 11441443 . 10.1023/a:1010301308649 .
  11. News: Repelling Bugs with the Essence of Grapefruit . Richard Knox . April 18, 2011 . NPR.
  12. Web site: 10 August 2020. EPS approves nootkatone.
  13. News: McNeil. Donald G. Jr.. Citrus Flavoring Is Weaponized Against Insect-Borne Diseases. 2021-07-05. nytimes.com. 2020-08-11.

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