Nauphoeta cinerea as a useful model organism in insecticide research

Insects have played crucial beneficial roles in promoting the health of both humans and livestock. Additionally, they are vital for agriculture and the maintenance of ecosystems. Some insect species, however, transmit diseases and damage crops. Hence, insecticides are widely deployed to manage their adverse impacts. Insecticides, especially the synthetic forms, harm non-target organisms and the environment. Hence, more research should be directed at the discovery of biotic and ecologically friendly insecticides. Nauphoeta cinerea is increasingly recognized as a useful model organism for evaluating the lethality and toxicological impact of insecticides. This review examines recent studies on the toxicity and molecular mechanisms of both synthetic and biotic insecticides in the Nauphoeta cinerea model. We examined a wide range of insecticidal agents, including plant extracts like jack bean urease, Araucaria angustifolia methanolic extract, microbial extract like anatoxin-a, which elicit significant neurotoxicological consequences marked by acetylcholinesterase inhibition, disruption of ion channels, and modulation of neurotransmitters. Animal-derived secretions from Rhinella species induce potent cardiac and synaptic toxicity due to bufadienolides. Similarly, synthetic insecticides like fipronil and chlorpyrifos induce acetylcholinesterase inhibition, neuromuscular dysfunction, and oxidative stress in the N. cinerea model. Overall, this review highlights the value of N. cinerea as a toxicological model for evaluating lethality, ecological safety, and the mechanisms of action of different insecticidal compounds. It also demonstrates its significance in the discovery and assessment of new insecticidal agents.