Paraquat Toxicity on Substantia Nigra: Pioneering Insights from an Autopsy Based Pilot Study

Abstract

Paraquat (N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride) is one of the widely used herbicides in Indian agriculture. This compound is at the centre of polemics, involving debates on its effects on sustainable agriculture, potential health risks, and unintended applications. Paraquat (PQ) also gained ill repute globally due to the controversy surrounding its association with Parkinson’s disease [1]. Furthermore, our country witnessed a rise in paraquat-related deaths attributed to its misuse for suicide, prompting a consistent call for proper regulation and a potential ban [2]. Paraquat exerts its toxicity through corrosion and the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) causing cytotoxic effects that contribute to multiorgan failure. There is no specific antidote for paraquat (PQ) poisoning, and the lethal toxicity of this substance is responsible for a poor prognosis, even with minimal consumption.