Molecular mechanisms in diquat-induced organs injury：insights into cell signaling and potential therapeutic agents

Diquat (DQ) is a potent, non-selective herbicide which can result in severe poisoning and a high mortality if ingested accidentally or intentionally. Diquat poisoning can cause extensive damage to multiple organs, including the intestines, liver, kidneys, brain, and other organs. As there are no specific antidotes available for DQ poisoning, the current therapeutic strategies are essentially restricted to blood purification therapy and supportive care. Numerous studies on the molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic agents have been conducted over the past few decades. However, there has been no comprehensive summary or analysis of these findings. This review extensively investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying DQ-induced organ injury, with a particular focus on the major signaling pathways. In addition, searches were conducted in PubMed and Web of Science using the following search terms: "diquat"[tiab] OR "diquat"[MeSH Terms]. A total of 166 eligible papers published over the past 35 years were selected. Consequently, more than seventy potential therapeutic agents with protective effects against DQ-induced toxicity are summarized and analyzed. In the future, it will be essential to conduct preclinical research and clinical trials to extrapolate these findings to humans.