Mechanism of inhibitory action of the local anaesthetic trimecaine on the growth of algae (Chlorella vulgaris)

Using the model compound trimecaine, it was found that algicidal effects exhibited by the local anaesthetics of the acetanilide type were caused by two different mechanisms. The first inhibitory mechanism occurring at low concentrations of the anaesthetic is connected with the uncoupling of the photophosphorylations in algal chloroplasts and is accompanied by the enhancement of the oxygen evolving rate in algal photosynthesis. The second mechanism of inhibition of the photosynthesis in algae, taking place at higher concentrations of the anaesthetic, is connected with the damaging of the manganese containing protein on the donor side of photosystem 2 and is accompanied by a decrease of the oxygen evolving rate in algal photosynthesis.