Piperonyl butoxide Properties

Description

Piperonyl butoxide is a pesticide synergist. It does not, by itself have pesticidal properties. However, when added to insecticide mixtures, typically pyrethrin, pyrethroid, and carbamate insecticides, their potency is increased considerably.Piperonyl butoxide is a potent cytochrome P450 and non-specific esterase inhibitor. These enzyme families act as the principal detoxification pathways for many pests, and so inhibiting them allows higher unmetabolised systemic concentrations of the active insecticide to remain within the target animal for a longer period.Piperonyl butoxide is moderately stable, and is a semisynthetic derivative of safrole.It is debatable whether the substance is oncogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic in humans. Its acute oral and dermal toxicity in mammals is low.