Piericidin B is a bacterial metabolite that has been found inS. mobaraensisand has insecticidal and antimicrobial activities.1,2,3It inhibits NADH oxidase activity in isolated bovine heart mitochondria and inhibits respiration in isolated rat liver mitochondria and isolated cockroach (P. americana) muscle mitochondria.2,3Topical application of piericidin B (4 μg/insect) induces mortality in 87.5% of houseflies (M. domestica).1It induces 93.3, 100, and 100% mortality in rice stem borer (C. simples), silkworm (B. mori), and green caterpillar (P. rapae) larvae, respectively, when applied at respective concentrations of 60, 4.8, and 96 μg/larva. Piericidin B is active against the fungiT. asteroides,T. rubrum,M. gypseum, andC. neoforms(MICs = 20, 10, 20, and 2 μg/ml, respectively), as well as the bacteriaM. luteusandP. vulgaris(MICs = 50 and 100 μg/ml, respectively).
1.Takahashi, N., Suzuki, A., Kimura, Y., et al.Isolation, structure and physiological activities of piericidin B, natural Insecticide produced by a StreptomycesAgr. Biol. Chem.32(9)1115-1122(1968) 2.Jeng, M., Hall, C., Crane, F.L., et al.Inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport by piericidin A and related compoundsBiochemistry7(4)1311-1322(1968) 3.Mitsui, T., Fukami, J.-I., Fukunaga, K., et al.Studies on piericidin. I. : Effects of piericidin A and B on mitochondrial electron transport in insect muscle comparing with rotenoneSci. Insect Control34(3)126-134(1969)