Buprofezin is an insecticide that acts by inhibiting chitin synthesis.¹It inhibits chitin synthesis by 35% inN. lugensnymphs when used at a concentration of 10 ppm. Buprofezin (500 ppm) decreases the lifespan of adultT. vaporariorumwith 17.9% mortality after 24 hours.²It inhibits mitochondrial respiration when used at concentrations of 10 and 30 µM, reduces the expression of enzymes involved in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and stimulates glycolysis in HepG2 cells.³It also dose-dependently increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)in vitro. Buprofezin accumulates in mouse liver following oral administration of doses ranging from 46.3 to 417 mg/kg. It is not mutagenic and has LD₅₀values of 6,810 and 5,010 mg/kg in male and female rats, respectively.⁴Formulations containing buprofezin have been used as insecticides.

1.Izawa, Y., Uchida, M., Sugimoto, T., et al.Inhibition of chitin biosynthesis by buprofezin analogs in relation to their activity controlling Nilaparvata lugens StÅlPest. Biochem. Phys.24(3)343-347(1985) 2.Yasui, M., Fukada, M., and Maekawa, S.Effects of buprofezin on different developmental stages of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (WESTWOOD) (Homoptera : Aleyrodidae)Appl. Ent. Zool.20(3)340-347(1985) 3.Ji, X., Ku, T., Zhu, N., et al.Potential hepatic toxicity of buprofezin at sublethal concentrations: ROS-mediated conversion of energy metabolismJ. Hazard. Mater.320176-186(2016) 4.Xiao, H., Yang, Y., Tang, L., et al.Observation of toxicity and mutagenesis of insect growth regulator buprofezinNanj. Yixuey. Xue.12(1)23-26(1992)