Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
09:09
Physiological Recordings and RNA Sequencing of the Gustatory Appendages of the Yellow-fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti
Published on: December 30, 2014
8.0K
Gene-Directed In Vitro Mining Uncovers the Insect-Repellent Constituent from Mugwort (Artemisia argyi)
Yao Zhi1,2, Chong Dai1, Xueting Fang1
1Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|November 1, 2024
Summary
Researchers identified (+)-intermedeol from mugwort as a potent insect repellent. This natural compound, produced via biosynthesis in yeast, offers a safe and effective alternative to traditional repellents.
Area of Science:
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Entomology
Background:
- Plants possess undiscovered bioactive compounds, challenging to isolate in sufficient quantities.
- Mugwort (Artemisia argyi) is known for insect repellency, but the active compound is unidentified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically characterize mugwort terpene synthases (TPSs) using a gene-directed in vitro mining approach.
- To identify and characterize the specific mugwort constituent responsible for insect repellent activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a yeast expression system to analyze mugwort TPSs and establish a terpene synthase-standard library.
- Screened identified terpene products for repellent activity against mosquitoes and ticks.
Main Results:
- Identified 54 terpene products, including a novel compound, cyclosantalol.
- (+)-Intermedeol, a trace constituent, demonstrated significant repellent activity against mosquitoes and ticks.
- Achieved biosynthetic production of (+)-intermedeol in yeast with an initial yield of 2.34 g/L.
Conclusions:
- (+)-Intermedeol is a highly effective, safe, and commercially viable insect repellent derived from mugwort.
- The gene-directed in vitro mining approach is promising for discovering and producing other valuable plant natural products.
