Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have isolated a natural compound, callicarpenal, from the American beautyberry that has been shown to repel mosquitoes, ticks, and fire ants. Callicarpenal, an all-natural insect repellent, is an alternative to commercially available synthetic repellents and more effective than currently available natural repellents on the market. Callicarpenal is as effective as DEET, and more effective than picaridin (Bayrepel) in the bioassays used against mosquitoes, and is also as effective as DEET and picardin against the deer tick. It could be a good alternative to synthetic repellents such as DEET and picaridin, and could be marketed as an allnatural repellent. Natural pesticides (repellents) are typically less harmful to the environment, more specific to particular insects, and public perception is typically better. Certainly DEET and picaridin are excellent repellents; however, the industry is searching for "natural" alternatives that are better accepted than DEET. Callicarpenal is potentially a safer and perhaps more effective insect repellent. The market potential is huge because 38 percent of Americans use a DEET-based product every year. Using aerosols creams, it could be applied topically.
The compound would have to be registered with the EPA, and methods for obtaining this compound cheaply need to be developed.
Patent Status: Please refer to S.N. 11/374,866 (Docket #0059.05), "Novel Clerodanes and Methods for Repelling Arthropods," which was filed on March 14, 2006. Foreign rights are available.
Project Leader: Charles L. Cantrell — Natural Products Utilization Research, University, MS 38677 Phone: (662) 915-5898, Fax: (662) 915-1035; ccantrell@msa-oxford.ars.usda.gov
More info: Tara T. Weaver-Missick, USDA, ARS Office of Technology Transfer, 301-504-6965, twm@ars.usda.gov
