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Nepetalactone
Nepetalactone is a name for multiple iridoid Structural analog, analog stereoisomers. Nepetalactones are produced by ''Nepeta cataria'' (catnip) and many other plants belonging to the genus ''Nepeta'', in which they protect these plants from herbivorous insects by functioning as insect repellents. They are also produced by many aphids, in which they are sex pheromones. Nepetalactones are cat attractants, and cause the behavioral effects that catnip induces in domestic cats. However, they affect visibly only about two thirds of adult cats. They produce similar behavioral effects in many other Felidae, felids, especially in lions and jaguars. In 1941, the research group of Samuel M. McElvain was the first to determine the structures of nepetalactones and several related compounds. Structure and properties Nepetalactone has three chiral centers, two at the fused-ring compound, fusion of the two rings, and one where the methyl group attaches to the cyclopentane ring. Thus, it has eight ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Catnip
''Nepeta cataria'', commonly known as catnip and catmint, is a species of the genus ''Nepeta'' in the mint family, native plant, native to southern and eastern Europe, northern parts of the Middle East, and Central Asia. It is widely naturalisation (biology), naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. The common name catmint can also refer to the genus as a whole. It is a short-lived perennial plant, perennial mint family, mint-family herb growing tall with square stems, grayish canescent leaves that vary in shape and have serrated edges, fragrant small bilabiate flowers arranged in raceme spikes, and produces small three-sided nutlets containing one to four seeds. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, with no subspecies but multiple botanical synonyms, and its name—derived from medieval Latin—reflects its historical association with cats and various traditional names dating back to medieval England. Catnip is named for the intense attraction ab ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Domestic Cats
The cat (''Felis catus''), also referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the domestication of the cat occurred in the Near East around 7500 BC. It is commonly kept as a pet and working cat, but also ranges freely as a feral cat avoiding human contact. It is valued by humans for companionship and its ability to kill vermin. Its retractable claws are adapted to killing small prey species such as mice and rats. It has a strong, flexible body, quick reflexes, and sharp teeth, and its night vision and sense of smell are well developed. It is a social species, but a solitary hunter and a crepuscular predator. Cat intelligence is evident in their ability to adapt, learn through observation, and solve problems. Research has shown they possess strong memories, exhibit neuroplasticity, and display cognitive skills compara ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Actinidine
Actinidine is an iridoid produced in nature by a wide variety of plants and animals. It was the first cyclopentanoid monoterpene alkaloid to be discovered. It is one of several compounds that may be extracted from the valerian (''Valeriana officinalis'') root and silver vine (''Actinidia polygama''), as well as several types of insects in the larval and imaginal stages. Actinidine is a cat attractant, with effects like those of nepetalactone, the active compound found in catnip. Certain species of stick insects, including '' Megacrania batesii'' and '' Megacrania tsudai'', possess a chemical defense mechanism which involves the secretion of an actinidine-containing substance from the prothoracic The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the first pair of legs. Its principal sclerites (exoskeletal plates) are the pronotum (dorsal), the prosternum (ventral), and the propleuron (lateral) on ea ... glands, when threatened by a pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nepeta
''Nepeta'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Lamiaceae. The genus name, from Latin (“catnip”), is reportedly in reference to Nepi, Nepete, an ancient Etruscan cities, Etruscan city.Missouri Botanical Garden: ''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii'' Accessed January 10, 2013 There are 295 accepted species. The genus is native plant, native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, and has also naturalisation (biology), naturalized in North America. Some members of this group are known as catnip or catmint because of their effect on house cats – the nepetalactone contained in some ''Nepeta'' species binds to the olfactory receptors of cats, typically resulting in temp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Insect Repellent
An insect repellent (also commonly called "bug spray" or "bug deterrent") is a substance applied to the skin, clothing, or other surfaces to discourage insects (and arthropods in general) from landing or climbing on that surface. Insect repellents help prevent and control the outbreak of insect-borne (and other arthropod-bourne) diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, dengue fever, bubonic plague, river blindness, and West Nile fever. Pest animals commonly serving as vectors for disease include insects such as flea, fly, and mosquito; and ticks (arachnids). Some insect repellents are insecticides (bug killers), but most simply discourage insects and send them flying or crawling away. Effectiveness Synthetic repellents tend to be more effective and/or longer lasting than "natural" repellents. For protection against ticks and mosquito bites, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends DEET, icaridin (picaridin, KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-me ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cat Attractant
A cat pheromone is a chemical molecule, or compound, that is used by cats and other felidae, felids for communication. These pheromones are produced and detected specifically by the body systems of cats and evoke certain behavioural responses. Cat pheromones are commonly released through the action of scent rubbing. As such, one of the main proposed functions of pheromone release is to allow the cat to familiarize itself with its surroundings and other individuals, both in the newborn and adult stages of life. Specific cat pheromones that have been chemically identified include the feline facial pheromones F1-F5, the feline appeasing pheromone, and 3-Mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol, MMB in urine, most of which are associated with distinct feline behaviours. Some of these chemical makeups have been synthetically reproduced and may be used by cat owners or veterinary professionals looking to change problematic or stress-induced behaviours. Production and detection The mechanism of che ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lactone
Lactones are cyclic carboxylic esters. They are derived from the corresponding hydroxycarboxylic acids by esterification. They can be saturated or unsaturated. Lactones are formed by lactonization, the intramolecular esterification of the corresponding hydroxycarboxylic acids. Nomenclature Greek alphabet#Letters, Greek prefixes in alphabetical order indicate ring size. Lactones are usually named according to the precursor acid molecule (''aceto'' = 2 carbon atoms, ''propio'' = 3, ''butyro'' = 4, ''valero'' = 5, ''capro'' = 6, etc.), with a ''-lactone'' suffix and a Greek letter prefix that specifies the number of carbon atoms in the heterocycle — that is, the distance between the relevant -OH and the -COOH groups along said backbone. The first carbon atom after the carbon in the -COOH group on the parent compound is labelled α, the second will be labeled β, and so forth. Therefore, the prefixes also indicate the size of the lactone ring: α-lactone = 3-membered ring, β-lac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nepetalactol
Nepetalactol is an iridoid. It is produced from 8-oxogeranial by the enzyme iridoid synthase. Nepetalactol is a substrate for the enzyme iridoid oxidase (IO) which produces 7-deoxyloganetic acid. It has been identified in ''Actinidia polygama'' (the silver vine) as a major cat attractant A cat pheromone is a chemical molecule, or compound, that is used by cats and other felidae, felids for communication. These pheromones are produced and detected specifically by the body systems of cats and evoke certain behavioural responses. Cat ..., and a mosquito repellent. The fact that mosquitos bite cats with nepetalactol on their fur less often may explain why cats are attracted to silver vine in the first place. References {{Reflist Iridoids Cyclopentanes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Refractive Index
In optics, the refractive index (or refraction index) of an optical medium is the ratio of the apparent speed of light in the air or vacuum to the speed in the medium. The refractive index determines how much the path of light is bent, or refraction, refracted, when entering a material. This is described by Snell's law of refraction, , where and are the angle of incidence (optics), angle of incidence and angle of refraction, respectively, of a ray crossing the interface between two media with refractive indices and . The refractive indices also determine the amount of light that is reflectivity, reflected when reaching the interface, as well as the critical angle for total internal reflection, their intensity (Fresnel equations) and Brewster's angle. The refractive index, n, can be seen as the factor by which the speed and the wavelength of the radiation are reduced with respect to their vacuum values: the speed of light in a medium is , and similarly the wavelength in that me ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lonicera Tatarica
''Lonicera tatarica'' is a species of honeysuckle known by the common name Tatarian honeysuckle. Native to Asia, the plant is one of several exotic bush honeysuckles present in North America, being considered an invasive species there. Description ''Lonicera tatarica'' is a bushy shrub which may approach in height. The twigs can be an array of colors from green to brown with a hollow brown pith. The plant is lined with oval or rounded simple leaves long. The leaves and stem range from long, wide. They are egg shaped and both hairless and toothless. The inflorescence ranges in color from deep rose to light pink, and can also be white. The petals are typically long, with a slender tube and 2 lips. The upper lip contains 4 lobes, the middle two erect and fused near the base. The white to pink to crimson red flowers are each about long, their stamens and styles protruding. The fruit is a shiny orange or red seed-containing berry less than 1'' ''cm wide. The berries are att ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Iridoid
Iridoids are a type of monoterpenoids in the general form of cyclopentanopyran, found in a wide variety of plants and some animals. They are biosynthetically derived from 8-oxogeranial. Iridoids are typically found in plants as glycosides, most often bound to glucose. The chemical structure is exemplified by iridomyrmecin, a defensive chemical produced by the ant genus '' Iridomyrmex'', for which iridoids are named. Structurally, they are bicyclic ''cis''-fused cyclopentane-pyrans. Cleavage of a bond in the cyclopentane ring gives rise to a subclass known as ''secoiridoids'', such as oleuropein and amarogentin. Occurrence The iridoids produced by plants act primarily as a defense against herbivores or against infection by microorganisms. The variable checkerspot butterfly also contains iridoids obtained through its diet which act as a defense against avian predators. To humans and other mammals, iridoids are often characterized by a deterrent bitter taste. Aucubin and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
