title: Isolation and Identification of Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) Biting-Deterrent Compounds from the Native American Ethnobotanical Remedy Plant Hierochloë odorata (Sweetgrass).
abstract: Hierochloë odorata (L.) P. Beauv. (Poaceae), commonly known as sweetgrass, has documented use as an insect repellent by the Flatheads of Montana and Blackfoot of Alberta. Both the Flatheads of Montana and Blackfoot of Alberta would use braided plant material in a sachet in clothing or burn them from one end as incense, air/clothing freshener, and insect repellent. This study evaluated the insect-repellent properties of this plant using an in vitro mosquito Aedes aegypti feeding bioassay-directed approach to identify the compound(s) responsible for the observed activities. Evaluation of crude extracts produced from H. odorata revealed that the hydrodistillate had the highest level of mosquito biting deterrence. Fractionation of this extract, followed by re-evaluation for mosquito biting deterrence, produced many active fractions, which were evaluated by spectroscopic techniques and determined to contain phytol, coumarin, and 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol. Phytol and coumarin were both determined to be responsible for the Ae. aegypti biting deterrency. Scientific evidence reported here validates its traditional use as a biting-insect deterrent.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service , University, Mississippi 38677, United States.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cantrell
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Agriculture, Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation, University of Guelph , Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: A Maxwell P
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: National Center for Natural Products Research, The University of Mississippi , University, Mississippi 38677, United States.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D003374:Coumarins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D019448:Ethnobotany; D005260:Female; D006139:Guaiacol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007302:Insect Repellents / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010836:Phytol / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D014753:Vinyl Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003374:Coumarins; D007302:Insect Repellents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D010836:Phytol; D006139:Guaiacol; C030123:coumarin; C526552:2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol
keywords: Aedes aegypti; Hierochloë odorata; ethnobotanical remedy; repellent; sweetgrass