Anthranilate-based insect repellents include

methyl anthranilate Methyl anthranilate, also known as MA, methyl 2-aminobenzoate, or carbomethoxyaniline, is an ester of anthranilic acid. Its chemical formula is C8H9NO2. It has a strong and fruity grape smell, and one of its key uses is as a flavoring agent. Chem ...

, ''N'',''N''-dimethylanthranilic acid (DMA), ethyl anthranilate (EA), and butyl anthranilate (BA). Chemically, they are

ester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides ar ...

s of

anthranilic acid Anthranilic acid is an aromatic acid with the formula C6H4(NH2)(CO2H) and has a sweetish taste. The molecule consists of a benzene ring, ''ortho''-substituted with a carboxylic acid and an amine. As a result of containing both acidic and basic f ...

. While the United States

Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respon ...

(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 Fruit fly may refer to: Organisms * Drosophilidae, a family of small flies, including: ** ''Drosophila'', the genus of small fruit flies and vinegar flies ** ''Drosophila melanogaster'' or common fruit fly ** ''Drosophila suzukii'' or Asian fruit ...

and

mosquito Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning " gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "li ...

s, and target the same neurons that respond to

DEET ''N'',''N''-Diethyl-''meta''-toluamide, also called DEET () or diethyltoluamide, is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents. It is a slightly yellow oil intended to be applied to the skin or to clothing and provides protection ag ...

. 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

{{reflist Anthranilates Insect repellents