Organosulphur constituents in garlic oil elicit antennal and behavioural responses from the yellow fever mosquito
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| Authors: | Campbell, C; Gries, R; Khaskin, G; Gries, G |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Journal: | Journal of Applied Entomology 135: 374-381 Article Link (DOI) |
| Title: | Organosulphur constituents in garlic oil elicit antennal and behavioural responses from the yellow fever mosquito |
| Abstract: | Garlic (Allium sativum) and its essential oil have long been used for their distinct flavour, therapeutic effects and as a topical and systemic insect repellent. We tested the hypothesis that the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae), responds electrophysiologically and behaviourally to specific components of the steam-distilled essential oil of garlic. In coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection analyses of garlic oil, antennae of female Ae. aegypti responded to 14 compounds. Seven of them [diallyl disulphide, diallyl trisulphide, diallyl tetrasulphide, 2-(2,3-dithia-5-hexenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-thiopyran, 3-(2,3-dithia-5-hexenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-thiopyran, 6-methyl-4,5,8,9-tetrathiadodeca-1,11-diene and 4,5,9,10-tetrathiatrideca-1,12-diene] were isolated or synthesized and tested for their ability to repel host-seeking female Ae. aegypti. A solution of diallyl trisulphide and diallyl tetrasulphide applied to a human forearm provided protection from female mosquitoes significantly longer than the paraffin oil control. All compounds had mean protection times significantly shorter than an equivalent dose of the 'gold standard'N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide. Understanding the common moiety in organosulfur compounds that causes repellence could lead to the design of analogues that are more effective than their natural counterparts in repelling mosquitoes. |
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