What is the Difference Between Pyrethrin and Permethrin

The key difference between pyrethrin and permethrin is that pyrethrin is a completely natural substance, whereas permethrin is a synthetic substance that is made in laboratories.

Both pyrethrin and permethrin are important as insecticides. These help in controlling insects in industrial and domestic environments. Pyrethrins are a group of organic compounds that are derived from Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium plant, having potent insecticidal activity through targeting the nervous system of insects. Permethrin is a medication and an insecticide sold under the brand name Nix.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Pyrethrin 
3. What is Permethrin
3. Similarities – Pyrethrin and Permethrin
4. Pyrethrin vs Permethrin in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Pyrethrin vs Permethrin

What is Pyrethrin?

Pyrethrins are a group of organic compounds that are derived from Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium plant, which have potent insecticidal activity through targeting the nervous system of insects. Naturally, this compound occurs in the flowers of this plant, and often it is considered as an organic insecticide compound. The insecticidal and insect-repellent properties have been known and used for thousands of years. Therefore, they seem to gradually replace organophosphates and organochlorides as pesticides because the latter compounds show a significantly high and persistent toxic effect on humans.

In 1924, the Chemist Hermann Staudinger revealed the chemical structure of pyrethrin. There are two isomers as, pyrethrin I and pyrethrin II. These are structurally related esters having a cyclopropane core. We can classify pyrethrins as terpenoids. When considering the biosynthesis of this substance, it occurs naturally involving two molecules of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate and cyclopropane ring through the action of chrysanthemyl diphosphate synthase enzyme.

We can consider pyrethrins as the safest insecticides in the market. This is because of their rapid degradation in the environment. However, the use of this substance in products such as natural insecticides and pet shampoo can increase the risk of toxicity in mammals that are exposed to them.

What is Permethrin?

Permethrin is a medication and an insecticide sold under the brand name Nix. It is useful as a medication in treating scabies and lice. We can apply this medication as a cream or lotion. As an insecticide, we can spray it onto clothing or mosquito nets to kill the insects that tough these surfaces.

There can be side effects of these insecticides; these include rashes and irritation at the used area. However, it appears to be safe for use during pregnancy. This medication belongs to the family of pyrethroids. As a medication, it can act by disrupting the function of the neurons of lice and scabies mites.

This substance was discovered in 1973. Its chemical formula is C21H20Cl2O3. There are many uses of this substance in agriculture to protect crops, kill livestock parasites, control industrial and domestic insects, prevent insect attacks in the textile industry, etc.

What are the Similarities Between Pyrethrin and Permethrin?

1. Pyrethrin and Permethrin are important insecticides.
2. Both are useful in controlling insects in industrial and domestic environments.

What is the Difference Between Pyrethrin and Permethrin?

Pyrethrins are a group of organic compounds derived from Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium plant having potent insecticidal activity through targeting the nervous system of insects. Permethrin is a medication and an insecticide sold under the brand name Nix.   The key difference between pyrethrin and permethrin is that pyrethrin is a completely natural substance, whereas permethrin is a synthetic substance that is made in laboratories.

The below infographic presents the differences between pyrethrin and permethrin in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Pyrethrin vs Permethrin

Both pyrethrin and permethrin are important as insecticides. The key difference between pyrethrin and permethrin is that pyrethrin is a completely natural substance, whereas permethrin is a synthetic substance that is made in laboratories.

Reference:

1. “Pyrethrins.” National Pesticide Information Center.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Pyrethrin” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Permethrin-2D-skeletal” By CYL – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia