Inhibition of Anabaena flos-aquae by Galla chinensis

Galla chinensis is a traditional herbal medicine in China with detoxification, bacteriostatic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we exposed Anabaena flos-aquae to different concentrations of Galla chinensis aqueous extracts. As the exposure concentrations and duration increased, chlorophyll a of Anabaena flos-aquae was significantly reduced. After 72 h of exposure, protein content, MDA content, and superoxide dismutase activity in Anabaena flos-aquae gradually decreased with increasing concentrations of Galla chinensis aqueous extracts. Electron microscopy for ultrastructural analysis showed that compared to the control group, as the concentration of Galla chinensis increased, the Anabaena flos-aquae cell walls exhibited plasmolysis with blurred basic structures in the cytoplasm, deformation of algal cells, collapse, and rupture of cell walls, and most cells died. Galla chinensis can effectively inhibit the growth of Anabaena flos-aquae and exhibits significant allelopathy.