Prothrin, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, was synthesized from the biomass-derived platform chemical 5-(chloromethyl)furfural in six steps and overall 65% yield. Two structural analogues of prothrin were also prepared following the same synthetic approach. Preliminary testing of these furan-based pyrethroids against the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti indicates promising insecticidal ac...

Pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables have become a major concern associated with chemical food safety issues. Translocation of pesticides in tomato, mango and pineapple fruits in locally produced samples was investigated using gas chromatography/mass spectrophotometer (GC/MS) procedures. Samples were fractionated with respect to distance from the skin to the core and prepared for analysis...

A new, simple, precise, and rapid high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed for the analysis of commercial emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations of cypermethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin. A known amount of reference grade synthetic pyrethroid and its EC formulation was subjected to TLC, and the amount of pesticide present in the active ingred...

Pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals similar to pyrethrins in the pyrethrum extract which is obtained from Chrysanthemum plant. Historically, pyrethroids have been classified into two classes that differ in their chemical structure and symptoms of exposure: Type I pyrethroids include allethrin, tetramethrin, d-phenothrin, permethrin, and bioresmethrin. Type II pyrethroids include cypermethrin, c...

A number of preventive measures for the protection of humans against tick-borne diseases were evaluated. Measures involving the avoidance of tick bites with the use of protective clothing and insect repellents are the simplest and most effective. Repellents are applied directly to the skin or clothing and other fabrics, such as bednets, tents and anti-mosquito screens. Currently, DEET (N,N-diet...