Introduction

CARBAMATE COMPOUNDS - INTRODUCTION
  • Compared to organophosphates, carbamate pesticides are of relatively recent origin and constitute another important group of pesticides.
  • Carbamate insecticides, which are derivatives of carbamic acid are used as pesticides.
  • In addition to their use as pesticides, carbamates are used as drugs of choice in human medicine against Alzheimer's disease, myasthenia gravis and glaucoma and in veterinary medicine as parasiticides.
  • They are similar in many aspects to organophosphorus compounds.
  • The original carbamate, physostigmine, is a plant alkaloid, derived from the "ordeal bean"
  • Calabar bean containing biologically active carbamate was used as an ordeal poison.
  • Carbaryl (sevin) is the best known carbamate.
  • Some carbamates have structural similarity with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) and therefore they cause direct stimulation of ACh receptors, in addition to acetylcholinesterase(AChE) inactivation.
Last modified: Thursday, 22 December 2011, 7:22 AM