New formulation of paraquat with lysine acetylsalicylate with low mammalian toxicity and effective herbicidal activity.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Currently, the commercial formulations of the herbicide paraquat are highly toxic to humans, and no effective antidote is available for paraquat poisoning. The aim of the present study was to develop a safe formulation, combining paraquat and the known antidote lysine acetylsalicylate. The toxicity of a mixture of Gramoxone® (20% paraquat) and lysine acetylsalicylate in adult Wistar male rats and the herbicidal efficacy against grass lawn (50% of Poa pratensis and 50% of Festuca arundinacea) were evaluated. This new formulation was administered to Wistar rats by gavage at 125 mg kg(-1) of paraquat ion and lysine acetylsalicylate at 79, 158 or 316 mg kg(-1) body weight, and the survival rate was observed for 30 days.

RESULTS:

The survival rate of the paraquat group was only 40%, while lysine acetylsalicylate provided effective protection, with full survival observed in the groups that received 125 mg kg(-1) of paraquat ion and 316 mg kg(-1) of lysine acetylsalicylate. Both formulations of paraquat, either in the absence or in the presence of lysine acetylsalicylate, provided the same herbicidal activity against the tested herbal species.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present formulation of paraquat containing lysine acetylsalicylate, significantly decreases mammalian toxicity while maintaining effective herbicidal activity.

• Authors: Maria Teresa Baltazar, Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira, Lúcia Guilhermino, Maria de Lourdes Bastos, José Alberto Duarte, Félix Carvalho
• Journal: Pest management science (Pest Manag Sci) Vol. 69 Issue 4 Pg. 553-8 (Apr 2013) ISSN: 1526-4998 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23109273 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chemical References

• Antidotes
• Herbicides
• Lysine
• Paraquat
• Aspirin
• acetylsalicylic acid lysinate

Topics

• Animals
• Antidotes (pharmacology)
• Aspirin (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Herbicides (toxicity)
• Lysine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Male
• Paraquat (toxicity)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Toxicity Tests