ARS | Publication request: Algicidal Activity of Stilbene Analogs

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 12, 2008
Publication Date: September 10, 2008
Citation: Mizuno, C.S., Schrader, K., Rimando, A.M. 2008. Algicidal Activity of Stilbene Analogs. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 56(19):9140-9145.

Interpretive Summary: Cyanobacterium Oscillatoria perornata is one of the major problems in catfish farms causing big losses for catfish farmers every year. This algae release chemicals in the water that is absorbed by pond raised catfish leaving the fish with musty and earthy flavor. Thus, the fish can not be sold and needs to be held longer in the pond until it reaches acceptable levels of flavor quality. Delay in harvesting causes increases in the feeding costs among other problems. In an attempt to solve this problem several natural based compounds were tested against O. perornata. Among the compounds tested two compounds were identified as having moderate and selective algicide activity against O. perornata.

Technical Abstract: As part of our continuing search for natural product and natural product-based compounds for the control of off-flavor in catfish, a total of twenty nine stilbene analogs were synthesized and evaluated for algicidal activity against the 2-methylisoborneol (MIB)-producing cyanobacterium Oscillatoria perornata. Two analogs, the cis and trans isomers of 4-(3,5-dimethoxystyryl)aniline, showed moderate and selective algicidal activity towards O. perornata with lowest observed inhibitory concentration and lowest complete inhibition concentrations of 10 µM. This is the first report on selective algicidal activity towards a MIB-producing species of cyanobacteria by stilbenes.