Planta Med 2008; 74 - P-51
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1075247

Antimicrobial Activity of Stilbene Derivatives

CS Mizuno 1, KK Schrader 1, AM Rimando 1
  • 1United States Department of Agriculture, AgriculturalResearch Service Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, P.O. Box 8048, University, MS 38677-8048

Certain species of cyanobacteria are responsible for fish “off-flavor” that causes annual losses of up to $60 million for U.S. catfish farmers. The “musty” and “earthy” flavor of the fish flesh is caused by the absorption of the cyanobacterial metabolites 2-methylisobroneol (MIB) and geosmin, respectively. Edwardsiella ictaluri and Flavobacterium columnare are the causative bacteria for the two most common diseases in pond-raised channel catfish referred to as enteric septicemia of catfish and columnaris, respectively. In an attempt to find a solution to control problems caused by these undesirable pathogenic bacteria and cyanobacteria, more than 20 natural and synthetic stilbenes were tested for activity against these microorganisms. Both cis and trans isomers of 4-(3,5-dimethoxystyryl)aniline demonstrated moderate toxicity against the MIB-producing cyanobacterium Oscillatoria perornata and were also found to be selectively toxic compared to their activity against the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum. Resveratrol showed slight activity against E. ictaluri and F. columnare based upon minimum inhibitory concentration.