Methyl N-methylanthranilate is an anthranilate ester found in mandarin leaf and petitgrain mandarinier style materials, where it helps create a dark-fruity, pungent citrus-leaf signature. The strongest accessible evidence supports its chemical identity, occurrence in citrus leaf oils, and fragrance-safety framing. A smaller preclinical literature discusses antinociceptive, antibiofilm, and phototoxicity-related findings, but those results remain mechanistic or early-stage and should not be translated into medical claims.
Chemical identity and composition
NIST identifies this material as C9H11NO2 with CAS 85-91-6 and lists dimethyl anthranilate as a common synonym. Within the archive it is a defining chemotype marker for petitgrain mandarinier and a supporting constituent in yellow mandarin style profiles. The literature also distinguishes it from methyl anthranilate, which is a related but different anthranilate ester with a more established grape note profile.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded grape-like, fruity, floral, pungent descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- Review the flagged use concerns across every contributing oil and the selected dilution.
- Read the route, preparation and experimental context before using a study finding to choose an oil.
Reported benefits and effects
Findings retain their study context. An animal or laboratory result describes that experiment.
citrus leaf marker constituent
A 2015 citrus-leaf study isolated the pungent principle from mandarin leaf essential oil and identified it as methyl N-methylanthranilate by NMR and MS, linking the constituent directly to the characteristic pungent sensory effect of mandarin and related citrus leaves.
Measured: identification of the compound driving pungency
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
antinociceptive preclinical research
A preclinical pharmacology paper on esters of N-methylanthranilic acid included methyl N-methylanthranilate among compounds with antinociceptive activity in animal models, but this does not establish clinical analgesic efficacy in humans.
Measured: behavioral antinociceptive effects
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
quorum sensing and biofilm research
A 2021 in vitro paper described methyl N-methylanthranilate as a quorum-sensing inhibitor and antibiofilm agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, providing a mechanistic bench signal but not a human-use outcome.
Measured: quorum sensing inhibition and biofilm reduction
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
Use concerns and concentration limits
Sensitization concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Phototoxicity concernFlagged
Flagged in the constituent reference; assess the source, route and finished-product concentration.
Oxidation concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Penetration enhancementNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
A recorded constituent reference, not a recommended oil dilution. Product category, source applicability and all contributing oils must be checked before use.
unverified reference · No source provenance attachedThe 2022 RIFM safety assessment concluded that methyl N-methylanthranilate is phototoxic, not photoallergenic, and should be limited to a maximum acceptable concentration of 0.1% based on phototoxicity alone.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
The same RIFM review states that methyl N-methylanthranilate does not present a skin-sensitization concern under current declared fragrance-use levels.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
A recent mechanistic phototoxicity paper was located, but the archive should rely primarily on the RIFM and IFRA framing rather than on isolated mechanistic assays when summarizing consumer safety.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Constituents it may interact with
No constituent-pair interaction is recorded for this identity. The report does not assume either amplification or incompatibility.
How the effects were investigated
phototoxic response under uv exposure
RIFM reviewed UV/Vis and human-study data and concluded that methyl N-methylanthranilate has phototoxic potential, with a maximum acceptable concentration of 0.1% based on phototoxicity alone.
The source assessment applies to its specified exposure and preparation; this entry is not an unrestricted-use clearance.
quorum sensing and biofilm interference reported in vitro
A metabolomics-guided antibiofilm paper described methyl N-methylanthranilate as a quorum-sensing inhibitor against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro, but this remains bench research rather than demonstrated human use.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
What this report cannot establish
- A reported constituent percentage does not establish an effective human therapeutic dose or the amount absorbed into the body.
- The presence of a constituent does not guarantee a clinical benefit, rash treatment or sleep improvement from a custom blend.
- An unflagged concern or missing use limit does not establish safety for ingestion, inhalation, skin exposure or a particular person.
- A candidate constituent interaction does not establish that two oils amplify one another at the selected proportions.
- Constituent descriptors alone do not establish a precise top, heart or base lifetime in a finished blend.
Known data gaps (5)
- No human clinical studies specific to isolated methyl N-methylanthranilate were verified in this pass.
- The constituent-specific bioactivity literature is still sparse and mostly preclinical.
- The strongest safety framing is phototoxicity management rather than broad therapeutic or wellness interpretation.
- The numeric dermal reference lacks source provenance; a verified flag alone is insufficient.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.