Piericidin B is a bacterial metabolite that has been found in S. mobaraensis and has insecticidal and antimicrobial activities.1,2,3 It inhibits NADH oxidase activity in isolated bovine heart mitochondria and inhibits respiration in isolated rat liver mitochondria and isolated cockroach (P. americana) muscle mitochondria.2,3 Topical application of piericidin B (4 µg/insect) induces mortality in 87.5% of houseflies (M. domestica).1 It 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 fungi T. asteroides, T. rubrum, M. gypseum, and C. neoforms (MICs = 20, 10, 20, and 2 µg/ml, respectively), as well as the bacteria M. luteus and P. 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)