Studies on Piericidin

Abstract

Respiratory inhibition by piericidin A was overcome by addition of vitamin K3 to the inhibited respiratory chain in mammalian mitochondria but not in insect mitochondria.Antagonistic effect of vitamin K3 on the inhibition of piericidin A was apparently found in respiration, blood pressure and heart rate in rat in vivo. Furthermore, toxicity of piericidin A to mouse and rat decreased when piericidin A was administered as the mixture of vitamin K3 in intraperitoneal route.No antagonistic effect of vitamin K3 was observed on the inhibition of piericidin A in TTC reaction of american cockroach nerve cord, femorals and digestive organs. Toxicity of piericidin A to some insects were not affected by vitamin K3.