Linuron is a phenylurea herbicide that is widely used to control the growth of grass and weeds in various agriculture crops and in orchards. Linuron is a photosystem II inhibitor. Linuron is also a competitive androgen receptor (AR) antagonist with a Ki of 100 μM. Linuron shows reproductive toxicity in animals that acts as an endocrine disruptor[1][2][3][4].
[1]. Benjamin Horemans, et al. Functional Redundancy of Linuron Degradation in Microbial Communities in Agricultural Soil and Biopurification Systems. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2016 Apr 18;82(9):2843-2853.
[2]. C Lambright, et al. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Linuron: An Antiandrogenic Herbicide That Produces Reproductive Malformations in Male Rats. Toxicol Sci. 2000 Aug;56(2):389-99.
[3]. Hongwei Ding, et al. Reproductive Toxicity of Linuron Following Gestational Exposure in Rats and Underlying Mechanisms. Toxicol Lett. 2017 Jan 15;266:49-55.
[4]. El?bieta G Magnucka, et al. Various Effects of the Photosystem II--inhibiting Herbicides on 5-n-alkylresorcinol Accumulation in Rye Seedlings. Pestic Biochem Physiol. 2014 Nov;116:56-62.