Extracts of vetiver oil as a repellent and toxicant to ticks and cockroaches

Abstract

Extracts of vetiver oil were found to be significant repellents and toxicants of ants, ticks, and cockroaches. Nootkatone was shown to significantly decrease ant invasion and increase mortality in fire ants. Nootkatone is an effective repellent and toxicant of ants either by itself or as an addition to other substrates, including mulches made from vetiver grass roots, diatomaceous earth, alumina, silica, clays; building materials made from either aluminum or wood; and other suitable solid substances. Nootkatone was also a repellent and toxicant to ticks; and a repellent to cockroaches. Nootkatone is non-toxic to humans and other mammals and is environmentally safe. In addition, it is believed that other extracts of vetiver oil, specifically α-cedrene, zizanol and bicyclovetivenol, will be effective against ants, ticks, and cockroaches.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for protecting a material from ant infestation, comprising treating the material with an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol, wherein the treated material repels or kills ants substantially more than does an otherwise identical material that has not been treated with the compound.  
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the ants are fire ants.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the treated material repels ants.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the treated material kills ants.  
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of soil, synthetic polymers, diatomaceous earth, sand, and cellulose-containing materials.  
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the compound is nootkatone.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the compound is α-cedrene.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the compound is zizanol.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the compound is bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1 , additionally comprising treating the material with one or more additional, different compounds selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         11 . A protective barrier against ant infestation, said barrier comprising an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol, and a substrate, wherein said barrier repels or kills ants substantially more than does an otherwise identical barrier that has not been treated with said compound.  
     
     
         12 . A composition as in  claim 11 , wherein the ants are fire ants.  
     
     
         13 . A composition as in  claim 11 , wherein said substrate comprises a mulch.  
     
     
         14 . A composition as in  claim 13 , wherein said mulch comprises dried vetiver grass.  
     
     
         15 . A composition as in  claim 13 , wherein said mulch comprises cellulose-containing material.  
     
     
         16 . A composition as in  claim 11 , wherein said substrate comprises soil.  
     
     
         17 . A composition as in  claim 11 , wherein said substrate comprises diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         18 . A composition as in  claim 11 , wherein said compound is nootkatone.  
     
     
         19 . A composition as in  claim 18 , wherein the concentration of nootkatone in said barrier is between about 10 μg/g and about 1000 μg/g.  
     
     
         20 . A composition as in  claim 18 , wherein the concentration of nootkatone in said barrier is between about 10 μg/g and about 200 μg/g.  
     
     
         21 . A composition as in  claim 11 , wherein said compound is zizanol.  
     
     
         22 . A composition as in  claim 11 , wherein said compound is bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         23 . A composition as in  claim 11 , wherein said compound is α-cedrene.  
     
     
         24 . A composition as in  claim 11 , additionally comprising treating said substrate with a one or more additional, different compounds selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol and bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         25 . A method for protecting a material from tick infestation, comprising treating the material with an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol, wherein the treated material repels or kills ticks substantially more than does an otherwise identical material that has not been treated with the compound.  
     
     
         26 . A method as in  claim 25 , wherein the treated material repels ticks.  
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 25 , wherein the treated material kills ticks.  
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 25 , wherein the material is selected from a group consisting of soil, synthetic polymers, diatomaceous earth, sand, and cellulose-containing materials.  
     
     
         29 . A method as in  claim 25 , wherein the compound is nootkatone.  
     
     
         30 . A method as in  claim 25 , wherein the compound is α-cedrene.  
     
     
         31 . A method as in  claim 25 , wherein the compound is zizanol.  
     
     
         32 . A method as in  claim 25 , wherein the compound is bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         33 . A method as in  claim 25 , additionally comprising treating the material with one or more additional, different compounds selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         34 . A protective barrier against tick infestation, said barrier comprising an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol, and a substrate, wherein said barrier repels or kills ticks substantially more than does an otherwise identical barrier that has not been treated with said compound.  
     
     
         35 . A composition as in  claim 34 , wherein said substrate comprises a mulch.  
     
     
         36 . A composition as in  claim 35 , wherein said mulch comprises dried vetiver grass.  
     
     
         37 . A composition as in  claim 35 , wherein said mulch comprises cellulose-containing material.  
     
     
         38 . A composition as in  claim 34 , wherein said substrate comprises soil.  
     
     
         39 . A composition as in  claim 34 , wherein said substrate comprises diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         40 . A composition as in  claim 34 , wherein said compound is nootkatone.  
     
     
         41 . A composition as in  claim 40 , wherein the concentration of nootkatone in said barrier is between about 10 μg/g and about 1000 μg/g.  
     
     
         42 . A composition as in  claim 40 , wherein the concentration of nootkatone in said barrier is between about 10 μg/g and about 200 μg/g.  
     
     
         43 . A composition as in  claim 34 , wherein said compound is zizanol.  
     
     
         44 . A composition as in  claim 34 , wherein said compound is bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         45 . A composition as in  claim 34 , wherein said compound is α-cedrene.  
     
     
         46 . A composition as in  claim 34 , additionally comprising treating the substrate material with a one or more additional, different compounds selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol and bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         47 . A topical composition for application to the skin or fur of a mammal for protection against ticks, said composition comprising an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol, and a pharmaceutically accepted carrier, wherein said composition when applied topically repels or kills ticks substantially more than does an otherwise identical composition that lacks the compound.  
     
     
         48 . A composition as in  claim 47 , wherein said compound is nootkatone.  
     
     
         49 . A composition as in  claim 48 , wherein the concentration of nootkatone in said composition is between about 10 μg/g and about 1000 μg/g.  
     
     
         50 . A composition as in  claim 48 , wherein the concentration of nootkatone in said composition is between about 10 μg/g and about 200 μg/g.  
     
     
         51 . A composition as in  claim 47 , wherein said compound is zizanol.  
     
     
         52 . A composition as in  claim 47 , wherein said compound is bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         53 . A composition as in  claim 47 , wherein said compound is α-cedrene.  
     
     
         54 . A composition as in  claim 47 , additionally comprising a composition with a one or more additional, different compounds selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol and bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         55 . A method for protecting a material from cockroach infestation, comprising treating the material with an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol, wherein the treated material repels cockroaches substantially more than does an otherwise identical material that has not been treated with the compound.  
     
     
         56 . A method as in  claim 55 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of soil, synthetic polymers, diatomaceous earth, sand, and cellulose-containing materials.  
     
     
         57 . A method as in  claim 55 , wherein the compound is nootkatone.  
     
     
         58 . A method as in  claim 55 , wherein the compound is α-cedrene.  
     
     
         59 . A method as in  claim 55 , wherein the compound is zizanol.  
     
     
         60 . A method as in  claim 55 , wherein the compound is bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         61 . A method as in  claim 55 , additionally comprising treating the material with one or more additional, different compounds selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         62 . A protective barrier against cockroach infestation, said barrier comprising an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, α-cedrene, zizanol, and bicyclovetivenol, and a substrate, wherein said barrier repels cockroaches substantially more than does an otherwise identical barrier that has not been treated with said compound.  
     
     
         63 . A composition as in  claim 62 , wherein said substrate comprises a mulch.  
     
     
         64 . A composition as in  claim 63 , wherein said mulch comprises dried vetiver grass.  
     
     
         65 . A composition as in  claim 63 , wherein said mulch comprises cellulose-containing material.  
     
     
         66 . A composition as in  claim 62 , wherein said substrate comprises soil.  
     
     
         67 . A composition as in  claim 62 , wherein said substrate comprises diatomaceous earth.  
     
     
         68 . A composition as in  claim 62 , wherein said compound is nootkatone.  
     
     
         69 . A composition as in  claim 68 , wherein the concentration of nootkatone in said barrier is between about 10 μg/g and about 1000 μg/g.  
     
     
         70 . A composition as in  claim 68 , wherein the concentration of nootkatone in said barrier is between about 10 μg/g and about 200 μg/g.  
     
     
         71 . A composition as in  claim 62 , wherein said compound is zizanol.  
     
     
         72 . A composition as in  claim 62 , wherein said compound is bicyclovetivenol.  
     
     
         73 . A composition as in  claim 62 , wherein said compound is α-cedrene.  
     
     
         74 . A composition as in  claim 62 , additionally comprising treating the substrate material with a one or more additional, different compounds selected from the group consisting of nootkatone, a-cedrene, zizanol and bicyclovetivenol.