Protectant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Protectants are "pesticidal substances" that are produced by plants to "protect" the plant from insects and other harmful organisms.[1] Many plants incorporate protectants as a defense mechanism.
[edit] Examples
A wide variety of plants use protectants to protect themselves. Caffeine, found in a variety of plants, works as a protectant by paralyzing or killing many insects on contact. This is a result of their insufficient ability to metabolize it.[2]. Other protectants, such as neem oil, or azadirachtin, work in a more indirect way. The neem tree secretes a mixture of azadirachtin and other protectants which target the hormone system and reproductive system of many flying insects. Some insects, such as mites and aphids are particularly vulnerable due to their soft exoskelatons. Neem oil further protects the plant by not hurting helpful insects, such as ladybugs [3]
[edit] Human Uses
Some farmers use natural, unprocessed plants to control insects instead of or in addition to highly processed chemicals.[4] Additionaly, protectants extracted from plants natuarly can be used to protect other plants in commercial or non-commercial settings.
