BR significantly reduced their toxicity and residues in the plants, Jing Quan Yu and colleagues said.

BRs may be 'promising, environmentally friendly, natural substances suitable for wide application to reduce the risks of human and environmental exposure to pesticides,' they note.

Farmers worldwide use about 2.5 million tonnes of pesticides each year, according to a release of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

The study is slated for publication in the Sep 23 issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.