Campus Units

Entomology

Document Type

Article

Publication Version

Accepted Manuscript

Publication Date

7-2013

Journal or Book Title

Pest Management Science

Volume

69

Issue

7

First Page

775

Last Page

780

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ps.3443

Abstract

Background

The phenolic monoterpenoid carvacrol, which is found in many plant essential oils (thyme, oregano and Alaska yellow cedar), is highly active against pest arthropods, but its mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Here, carvacrol is shown to bind in a membrane preparation containing insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). [14C]-Nicotine binding assays with Musca domestica (housefly) nAChRs were used in this study to demonstrate carvacrol's binding to nAChRs, thereby acting as a modulator of the receptors.

Results

Carvacrol showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of [14C]-nicotine binding in a membrane preparation of housefly heads containing nAChRs, with IC50 = 1.4 μM, in a non-competitive pattern. Binding studies with neonicotinoid insecticides revealed that imidacloprid and thiamethoxam did not inhibit the binding of [14C]-nicotine, while dinotefuran, from the guanidine subclass of neonicotinoids, inhibited nicotine binding like carvacrol.

Conclusions

Carvacrol binds to housefly nAChRs at a binding site distinct from nicotine and acetylcholine, and the nAChRs are a possible target of carvacrol for its insecticidal activity.© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Comments

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article in Pest Management Science, July 2013, 69(7); 775-780., which has been published in final form at doi:10.1002/ps.3443. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving."

Copyright Owner

Society of Chemical Industry

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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