Pesticides as Hidden Modifiers of Drug Action: Mechanisms and Human Health Implications.

Authors

Ganesh Bansi Patil, Maheshkumar Prakash Patil, Shikha Kailash Singh, Piyush Shantilal Bafna, Jong-Oh Kim, Rakesh Eshwarlal Mutha

Published in

Environmental research. Pages 125813. Sep 29, 2026. Epub Sep 29, 2026.

Abstract

Pesticides have been widely used in agricultural practices, as well as in the prevention of vector-borne and other communicable diseases. Although the ecotoxicology and adverse effects on human health are known, recent studies have shown that some types of pesticides may interact with therapeutic drugs, a fact that should be recognized by public health authorities as a new public health issue. The current review was intended to provide an overview of the present knowledge of different groups of pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides), as well as their mechanisms of action, which could influence both human health and the action of therapeutic drugs. These mechanisms affect ADME processes and share similar pharmacodynamic targets with drugs acting at the level of the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, endocrine glands, or Parkinson's disease. Importantly, these mechanisms of action of pesticides are also relevant for drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and may result in interactions between pesticides and therapeutic drugs, very much like typical drug-drug interactions. However, vulnerable groups such as farmers, pregnant women, children, and people suffering from chronic conditions are especially vulnerable. Oxidative stress turns out to be a common pathology that ties exposure to pesticides to brain cell degeneration, infertility, and reduced pharmacodynamics. Despite the availability of safer substitutes, such as biopesticides, human-based research is vital in terms of mixtures and modulators. It is imperative to acknowledge pesticides as environmental factors influencing drug responsiveness for optimal pharmacological treatment.

PMID:
42810660
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Sep 2026.

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