Better than DEET Repellent Compounds Derived from Coconut Oil

Junwei J. Zhu; Steven C. Cermak; James A. Kenar; Gary Brewer; Kenneth F. Haynes; Dave Boxler; Paul D. Baker; Desen Wang; Changlu Wang; Andrew Y. Li; Rui de Xue; Yuan Shen; Fei Wang; Natasha M. Agramonte; Ulrich R. Bernier; Jaires G. de Oliveira Filho; Ligia M.F. Borges; Kristina Friesen; David B. Taylor

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-32373-7

Better than DEET Repellent Compounds Derived from Coconut Oil

Junwei J. Zhu, Steven C. Cermak, James A. Kenar, Gary Brewer, Kenneth F. Haynes, Dave Boxler, Paul D. Baker, Desen Wang, Changlu Wang, Andrew Y. Li, Rui de Xue, Yuan Shen, Fei Wang, Natasha M. Agramonte, Ulrich R. Bernier, Jaires G. de Oliveira Filho, Ligia M.F. Borges, Kristina Friesen, David B. Taylor

Entomology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hematophagous arthropods are capable of transmitting human and animal pathogens worldwide. Vector-borne diseases account for 17% of all infectious diseases resulting in 700,000 human deaths annually. Repellents are a primary tool for reducing the impact of biting arthropods on humans and animals. N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), the most effective and long-lasting repellent currently available commercially, has long been considered the gold standard in insect repellents, but with reported human health issues, particularly for infants and pregnant women. In the present study, we report fatty acids derived from coconut oil which are novel, inexpensive and highly efficacious repellant compounds. These coconut fatty acids are active against a broad array of blood-sucking arthropods including biting flies, ticks, bed bugs and mosquitoes. The medium-chain length fatty acids from C_8:0 to C_12:0 were found to exhibit the predominant repellent activity. In laboratory bioassays, these fatty acids repelled biting flies and bed bugs for two weeks after application, and ticks for one week. Repellency was stronger and with longer residual activity than that of DEET. In addition, repellency was also found against mosquitoes. An aqueous starch-based formulation containing natural coconut fatty acids was also prepared and shown to protect pastured cattle from biting flies up to 96-hours in the hot summer, which, to our knowledge, is the longest protection provided by a natural repellent product studied to date.

Original language	English
Article number	14053
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32373-7
State	Published - Dec 1 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank B. Voelker, Keenan Allen and YS Wang for their technical support to this study, and to Dr. Kim Lohmeyer providing horn fly pupae. This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation for its use by USDA. This study was partly supported by the 2017 USDA-ARS Innovation Fund (to JJZ). Research conducted at the University of Kentucky was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture (KY008066). Research conducted at Rutgers University was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA and the Agriculture Hatch project 1001098 through the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, The Author(s).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1038/s41598-018-32373-7

Cite this

Zhu, J. J., Cermak, S. C., Kenar, J. A., Brewer, G., Haynes, K. F., Boxler, D., Baker, P. D., Wang, D., Wang, C., Li, A. Y., Xue, R. D., Shen, Y., Wang, F., Agramonte, N. M., Bernier, U. R., de Oliveira Filho, J. G., Borges, L. M. F., Friesen, K., & Taylor, D. B. (2018). Better than DEET Repellent Compounds Derived from Coconut Oil. Scientific Reports, 8(1), [14053]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32373-7

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abstract = "Hematophagous arthropods are capable of transmitting human and animal pathogens worldwide. Vector-borne diseases account for 17% of all infectious diseases resulting in 700,000 human deaths annually. Repellents are a primary tool for reducing the impact of biting arthropods on humans and animals. N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), the most effective and long-lasting repellent currently available commercially, has long been considered the gold standard in insect repellents, but with reported human health issues, particularly for infants and pregnant women. In the present study, we report fatty acids derived from coconut oil which are novel, inexpensive and highly efficacious repellant compounds. These coconut fatty acids are active against a broad array of blood-sucking arthropods including biting flies, ticks, bed bugs and mosquitoes. The medium-chain length fatty acids from C8:0 to C12:0 were found to exhibit the predominant repellent activity. In laboratory bioassays, these fatty acids repelled biting flies and bed bugs for two weeks after application, and ticks for one week. Repellency was stronger and with longer residual activity than that of DEET. In addition, repellency was also found against mosquitoes. An aqueous starch-based formulation containing natural coconut fatty acids was also prepared and shown to protect pastured cattle from biting flies up to 96-hours in the hot summer, which, to our knowledge, is the longest protection provided by a natural repellent product studied to date.",

author = "Zhu, {Junwei J.} and Cermak, {Steven C.} and Kenar, {James A.} and Gary Brewer and Haynes, {Kenneth F.} and Dave Boxler and Baker, {Paul D.} and Desen Wang and Changlu Wang and Li, {Andrew Y.} and Xue, {Rui de} and Yuan Shen and Fei Wang and Agramonte, {Natasha M.} and Bernier, {Ulrich R.} and {de Oliveira Filho}, {Jaires G.} and Borges, {Ligia M.F.} and Kristina Friesen and Taylor, {David B.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank B. Voelker, Keenan Allen and YS Wang for their technical support to this study, and to Dr. Kim Lohmeyer providing horn fly pupae. This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation for its use by USDA. This study was partly supported by the 2017 USDA-ARS Innovation Fund (to JJZ). Research conducted at the University of Kentucky was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture (KY008066). Research conducted at Rutgers University was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA and the Agriculture Hatch project 1001098 through the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, The Author(s).",

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Zhu, JJ, Cermak, SC, Kenar, JA, Brewer, G, Haynes, KF, Boxler, D, Baker, PD, Wang, D, Wang, C, Li, AY, Xue, RD, Shen, Y, Wang, F, Agramonte, NM, Bernier, UR, de Oliveira Filho, JG, Borges, LMF, Friesen, K & Taylor, DB 2018, 'Better than DEET Repellent Compounds Derived from Coconut Oil', Scientific Reports, vol. 8, no. 1, 14053. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32373-7

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AU - Zhu, Junwei J.

AU - Cermak, Steven C.

AU - Kenar, James A.

AU - Brewer, Gary

AU - Haynes, Kenneth F.

AU - Boxler, Dave

AU - Baker, Paul D.

AU - Wang, Desen

AU - Wang, Changlu

AU - Li, Andrew Y.

AU - Xue, Rui de

AU - Shen, Yuan

AU - Wang, Fei

AU - Agramonte, Natasha M.

AU - Bernier, Ulrich R.

AU - de Oliveira Filho, Jaires G.

AU - Borges, Ligia M.F.

AU - Friesen, Kristina

AU - Taylor, David B.

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PY - 2018/12/1

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Better than DEET Repellent Compounds Derived from Coconut Oil

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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