Metabolite feeding inhibited

Several approaches are being explored and developed using new methods in biotechnology to eliminate pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination of food and feed. These approaches resulted from recent information acquired on 1) non-aflatoxigenic A. flavus strains that prevent aflatoxin contamination of cottonseed when co-inoculated with aflatoxigenic strains, 2) molecular mechanisms governing aflatoxin biosynthesis, and 3) plant-derived metabolites that inhibit aflatoxin biosynthesis. 

Concern for the continued widespread use of chlordane centers on its ability to cause liver cancer in domestic mice. Other adverse effects in mammals, such as elevated tissue residues and growth inhibition, were frequently associated with diets containing between 0.76 and 5.0 mg chlordane/kg feed. Metabolism of technical chlordane by mammals results primarily in oxychlordane, a metabolite that is about 20 times more toxic than the parent compound and the most persistent metabolite stored in adipose tissues. Chlordane interactions with other agricultural chemicals produced significant biological effects in warm-blooded organisms, indicating a need for additional research on this subject. 

Low susceptibility to reef fishes in Florida and produces secondary metabolites (Paul and Hay 1986). Extract from Bahamas inhibits A punctulata feeding (Bolser and Hay 1996)... 

Table 11.5 Plant secondary metabolites inhibiting feeding by birds...

A dibromotyrosin-derived metabolite present at 1.0% sponge dry weight, aerothionin (148), from Aplysina fistularis completely inhibits fish feeding when assayed in a 1.0% food pellet [115]. 

As we have discussed, a variety of compounds from all classes of marine algae have now been tested for their effects on feeding by many different temperate and tropical herbivores. Many of these compounds effectively deter feeding by herbivores. However, there is considerable variance in the responses of different types of herbivores to even very similar compounds. Some metabolites inhibit feeding by most herbivores, whereas other compounds deter only a few herbivores.21,24 There is also considerable variation among different herbivores, even closely related species, in their responses to secondary metabolites from seaweeds. Thus, as the diversity of herbivore species increases, the probability of having herbivores that are not affected by any particular chemical defense undoubtedly increases. In these cases, complex mixtures of secondary metabolites253 or multiple defenses may be particularly important.27,29,31... 

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