Methods of inhibiting cyanobacteria growth by administering gramine derivatives

Abstract

This invention offers an effective method of inhibiting the growth of toxic bloom algae caused by cyanobacteria Mycrocystis aeruginosa in freshwater environments comprising administering an effective amount of 5,6-dichlorogramine to the freshwater. Also, the invention offers an effective method of inhibiting the growth of toxic bloom algae caused by M. aeruginosa comprising administering an effective amount of 5,6,7-trichlorogramine to the freshwater. Both compounds, 5,6-dichlorogramine and 5,6,7-trichlorogramine, may be administered individually or in combination to the freshwater. Both compounds are individually very potent and only need to be administered at a very low concentration to be effective at inhibiting the growth of M. aeruginosa in freshwater environments. Both 5,6-dichlorogramine and 5,6,7-trichlorogramine are each individually effective at inhibiting M. aeruginosa at low concentrations, between about 0.01 mg/L and about 0.05 mg/L, or more specifically at a concentration of about 0.03 mg/L. Also, both 5,6-dichlorogramine and 5,6,7-trichlorogramine individually have long potency durations, needing to be added no more frequently than once every 60 days to freshwater to inhibit the growth of M. aeruginosa.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.