Page 1 of 1

New, natural bug repellant?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:42 pm
by hikerduane
Jeff over on our small groups Yahoo forum thingy posted this link, sounds good if they can get the price down.
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/18/135468567 ... grapefruit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: New, natural bug repellant?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 5:53 pm
by maverick
Sound interesting, but this part of the article does raise some red flags "Humans don't
have octopamine receptors, so that may make nootkatone safe for humans, though
Dolan says scientists don't yet know whether there's any cross-reaction between
nootkatone and adrenaline receptors. Adrenaline is the human analog of insects'
octopamine."
I would definitely wait till they have solid data/evidence that there are no cross-reactions
between the receptors.

Re: New, natural bug repellant?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:44 pm
by ERIC
Heard that story on NPR yesterday. Meant to post it, but got tied up at work. Sounded pretty cool...

Re: New, natural bug repellant?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:14 pm
by hikerduane
Sounds like it is aways off anyway for human use. I read the part about the receptors too. Would be nice not to have to use DEET products, even the little I use it.

Re: New, natural bug repellant?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:15 pm
by quentinc
maverick wrote:Sound interesting, but this part of the article does raise some red flags "Humans don't
have octopamine receptors, so that may make nootkatone safe for humans, though
Dolan says scientists don't yet know whether there's any cross-reaction between
nootkatone and adrenaline receptors. Adrenaline is the human analog of insects'
octopamine."
I would definitely wait till they have solid data/evidence that there are no cross-reactions
between the receptors.
In fact, you may want to wait on this data before eating any more grapefruit. ;)

Re: New, natural bug repellant?

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:33 pm
by copeg
Heard that story on NPR yesterday. Meant to post it, but got tied up at work. Sounded pretty cool...
Ditto. It definitely sounded cool, but seems it needs quite a bit more research before (or if) its a product anyone can use