Pesticides and Chronic Diseases
William J. Rea, Kalpana D. Patel in Reversibility of Chronic Disease and Hypersensitivity, Volume 4, 2017
Pyrethrum, which has been used as an insecticide for >60 years, is the partly refined extract of the chrysanthemum flower. It is an oleoresin. The extract contains about 50% active ingredients. Pyrethrins are the insecticidally active ingredients of pyrethrum, now known to consist of ketoalcohol esters of pyrethric and chrysanthemic acids. The alcohols are pyrethrolone, cinerolone, and jasmolone, whose respective esters are known as pyrethrins, cinerins, and jasmolins. Being light, heat, and moisture sensitive, they have a half-life in hours. Pyrethroids are synthetic compounds based structurally on the pyrethrin molecule but modified to improve stability in the natural environment for light, heat, etc. In general, they have been observed to cause more health problems than natural pyrethrums.533
Insecticides
Frank A. Barile in Barile’s Clinical Toxicology, 2019
The pyrethroid insecticides are derived from the naturally occurring compound pyrethrum, from the dried flower heads of the yellow flower Chrysanthemum cineriaefolium.* The synthetic acid-alcoholic esters are categorized into several classes of the active ingredients; namely, pyrethrins types I and II.† Pyrethrum flowers have been used as insecticides for centuries, particularly by Caucasian tribesmen and Armenians. The powdered form was introduced into the United States in 1855, after which its importation expanded tremendously. Type I pyrethrins include allethrine, permethrin, and cismethrin; type II pyrethrins include fenvalerate, deltamethrin, and cypermethrin. The compounds (0.17–0.33%) are combined with piperonyl butoxide or n-octyl-dicycloheptane dicarboximide (2–4%) in therapeutic nonprescription pediculocide preparations for the treatment of lice, tick, and mite infestation.‡ Pyrethrins are noted for their quick “knock-down” effect on flying insects, particularly flies and mosquitoes. The products are available in lotions, sprays, and shampoos for skin or scalp applications as well as for removal from furniture and bedding material.
Catalog of Herbs
James A. Duke in Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, 2018
Pyrethrum is cultivated for the dried inflorescences which furnish on insecticide, used in manufacture of insecticides and parasiticides, in live stock sprays, meat processing, ointments for scabies, and aerosol sprays against fleas, flies, lice, and mosquitos. Pyrethrum use evolved in Iran, and was introduced into Europe and the U.S. in the 19th century. Kerosene extracts are usually used, but mixing pyrethrum with sesame-oil synergists reduces the cost while enhancing toxicity of pyrethrins, and requires less pyrethrum per unit kill. Toxicity to higher animals is minimal, so that pyrethrum is an excellent insect deterrent for use around foods. Smoke of burning flowers is as effective as the powder in keeping down insects.2 The flower has shown antibiotic activity against mycobacterium tuberculosis.1 Rarely cultivated as border plant; common in botanical gardens. Recent interest in organic or “natural” pesticides has stimulated interest in, e.g., combinations of pyrethrum, rotenone, and ryania.
Metabolism of deltamethrin and cis- and trans-permethrin by rat and human liver microsomes, liver cytosol and plasma preparations
Published in Xenobiotica, 2019
Laura Hedges, Susan Brown, Audrey Vardy, Edward Doyle, Miyoung Yoon, Thomas G. Osimitz, Brian G. Lake
Pyrethroids are a class of synthetic insecticides that are derived from the structures of the six active insecticide components (Pyrethrins I and II) of Pyrethrum extract, which is obtained from the dried and ground flowers of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium (Bhat, 1995; Elliott, 1995). Like natural pyrethrins, synthetic pyrethroids modulate nerve axon sodium channels in insects, resulting in neurotoxic effects (Gammon et al., 2012; Soderlund et al., 2002; Soderlund, 2012). Although synthetic pyrethroids exhibit a low oral toxicity to mammals, they have been shown to produce neurotoxic effects, with toxicity being considered to be due to the parent pyrethroid and not to any subsequent metabolites (Lawrence & Casida, 1982; Rickard & Brodie, 1985; Soderlund et al., 2002; Tsuji et al., 2012). Potency for producing acute neurotoxicity varies between different pyrethroids, with deltamethrin (DLM) being more potent than permethrin (Tsuji et al., 2012).
Orbital giant cell myositis is an unusual and potentially lethal cause of bilateral ophthalmoplegia – A case report and literature review
Published in Orbit, 2022
Rachel Jui-Chi Chang, Vivian Kuang, Joos Meyer, Ewan Chang, Samuel J Roberts-Thomson, Penny McKelvie, Thomas G Hardy, Zelda S Pick
Vitiligo is found in 3/11 patients, and rheumatoid arthritis in 1/11,2 suggesting an autoimmune process. Many autoimmune conditions including thymoma are associated with giant cell myocarditis.17 Experimental rat models showed that autoimmunisation with cardiac myosin leads to the development of GCM.18 The exact aetiology is unclear, but giant cell myocarditis is thought to be due to dysregulation mediated by T cells. This has been proposed to be triggered by infections such as Coxsackie virus21 or drug hypersensitivity.22 Our patient reported use of the pesticide pyrethrum one week prior to onset of orbital inflammatory symptoms. Pyrethroids act on sodium channels and cause prolonged depolarisation in insects. They can cause paraesthesia from neurotoxicity in humans, allergic reactions including asthma, and are noted to alter immune response.23,24 Chronic exposure has been shown to cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis with granuloma on lung biopsy.25 In addition, there is also evidence that risperidone can contribute to immune dysregulation by upregulating cytokines.26
Himalayan poisonous plants for traditional healings and protection from viral attack: a comprehensive review
Published in Toxin Reviews, 2022
Shriya Pathania, Diksha Pathania, Priyanka Chauhan, Mamta Sharma
Hay fever caused by pollen from ragweed, birch, hazel, timothy grass, and ryegrass is the common case of phytoallergy. Urticaria resulting from eating strawberries and allergy to peanuts are some other recognized allergy conditions due to phytoconstituents. Some phytoconstituents cause certain forms of extrinsic allergic alveolitis. Pyrethrum allergy is a known problem on the plantations of Chrysanthemum cineriaefolium in many countries. The Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) is a source of annual misery because of the massive amounts of highly allergenic pollen every spring (Wink and Van Wyk 2008). A Phytoallergic problem has increased greatly in recent decades. A different allergic mechanism occurs in regions with poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron, T. rydbergii), poison oak (Rhus juglandifolia) and poison sumac (Rhus vernix). The active ingredient is urushiol. Its first exposer of sap to the skin has no noticeable clinical effect. Urushiol acts as a hapten, however. It binds to proteins in the skin, creating new epitopes. Upon subsequent contact pronounced pruritic dermatitis develops (Wink 2010).
Related Knowledge Centers
- Chemical Decomposition
- Chrysanthemum
- Insecticide
- Permethrin
- Piperonyl Butoxide
- Pyrethroid
- Toxicity
- Oleoresin
- Insect Repellent
- Companion Planting