Chapter 3 - Pest Control Agents from Natural Products

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the toxicology of pest control agents derived from natural products. Plants have been the most important sources of natural pesticides for centuries until recently, when the immense potential of bacteria and other microorganisms for the production of biologically active substances was realized. Advances in the chemical and biochemical sciences from the 1950s made possible the isolation and biological characterization of the main active ingredients of all currently used natural pest control agents. The fate of these substances in target and non-target organisms and in the environment can now be studied using radiolabeled materials and sensitive analytical techniques. Information on the mode of action at the receptor level is also very helpful in the treatment of poisoning. The biological activity spectrum of natural pesticides is extremely variable, and the selectivity is often achieved by targeted application, often relying on the behavior of the target pest. The chapter discusses the physiochemical and biological properties, uses, metabolism, toxicity in animals and humans, and treatment of toxicity of several natural products based pesticides. The pesticides that are discussed include botanical insecticides, such as pyrethrins, nicotine, and anabasine; microbial insecticides, such as insect sex pheromones and spinosad; disease control agents, such as streptomycin, Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins, azadirachtin, and spinosad; semiochemicals, including kairomones and insect sex pheromones; herbicides like bilanafos and glufosinate; and rodent control agents such as strychnine, red squill, and ricin.