The insecticidal activity of the BPUs was discovered serendipitiously at Phillips-Duphar who commericalised diflubenzuron in 1975.[1] Since then, many BPUs were commercialised by many companies. BPUs accounted for 3% of the $ 18.4 billion world insecticide market in 2018.[3] Lufenuron, was the largest selling BPU in 2016, selling for $ 112 million.[4]
BPUs are active against many types of insect pests, (e.g. lepidoptera coleoptera, diptera) in agriculture,[1][5] as well as being used against termites and animal health pests such as fleas.[6]
3-(Iodoacetamido)-benzoylurea (3-IAABU) is one of several benzoylurea compounds which have been investigated as potential anticancer agents.[8]
Mammalian and environmental toxicity
BPUs have a good mammalian tox profile. Diflubenzuron is considered to be of very low acute toxicity, and is approved by the WHO for treatment of drinking water as a mosquito larvicide.[9]
BPUs have low acute toxicity against bees, low to moderate toxicity to fish, but high toxicity to aquatic invertebrates and crustaceans.[1]
BPUs have various rates of degradation in the environment. Some older BPUs have high persistance and are no longer sold.[1]Flufenoxuron was shown to bioaccumulate and was banned in the EU in 2011.[10]
^Douris, Vassilis; Steinbach, Denise; Panteleri, Rafaela; Livadaras, Ioannis; Pickett, John Anthony; Van Leeuwen, Thomas; Nauen, Ralf; Vontas, John (2016). "2016". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 113 (51): 14692–14697. doi:10.1073/pnas.1618258113. PMC5187681. PMID27930336.
^Jiang, J. D.; Davis, A. S.; Middleton, K.; Ling, Y. H.; Perez-Soler, R.; Holland, J. F.; Bekesi, J. G. (1998-12-01). "3-(Iodoacetamido)-benzoylurea: a novel cancericidal tubulin ligand that inhibits microtubule polymerization, phosphorylates bcl-2, and induces apoptosis in tumor cells". Cancer Research. 58 (23): 5389–5395. PMID9850070.
