Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Deferred Growth Inhibition Assay to Quantify the Effect of Bacteria-derived Antimicrobials on Competition
Published on: September 3, 2016
[Inhibition effects of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. on Microcystis aeruginosa]
Objective:
To research the inhibitory effect of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. on Microcystis aeruginosa.
Methods:
M. aeruginosat were treated respectively by H. cordata leaching solution or H. cordata extracts. H. cordata leaching solution extracted by water and the H. cordata extracts extracted by organic solvent (acetone, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and ethanol, respectively). The inhibition ratios were calculated according to the M. aeruginosa densities, and the allelochemicals of the extract that had the best inhibitiory effect on M. aeruginosa were identified by GC-MS analysis.
Results:
It was proved that leaching solution of H. cordata and four crude extracts had good inhibitory effect on M. aeruginosa. The inhibitory effects of the four crude extracts were the fraction extracted by ethyl acetate, the fraction extracted by ethanol, the fraction extracted by acetone and the fraction extracted by petroleum ether form strong to weak in turn. Then, the allelochemicals of the fraction extracted by ethyl acetate were indentified, mainly including acetonyldimethylcarbinol, 2,2-dimethyl-3-hexanone, 6-chlorohexanoic and 4-cyanophenyl ester.
Conclusion:
H. cordata has strong inhibitory effect on water-blooming cyanobacteria and the potential to develop into an ecological M. aeruginosa inhibiting agent.
Related Concept Videos
The Electron Transport Chain
Inhibitors of the electron transport chain
Rotenone, a widely used pesticide, prevents electron transfer from Fe-S cluster to ubiquinone or Q...
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules
Enzyme Inhibition
Feedback Inhibition
Microbial Corrosion

