[6] Tenuazonic acid (TeA) is a potent phytotoxin and an effective bio-herbicide due to its ability to block the photosynthetic pathway.

[7][8] Chlorophyll fluorescence study of the croftonweed plant treated by TeA in vivo show a time dependent increase of reduced QA as electron transfer is halted.

[8] Understanding this inhibitory mechanism of tenuazonic acid in photosynthesis allows for creation of new herbicides which are more targeted and less lethal to the environment.

Several factors contribute to the onset of AD, including low levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (Ach), heightened production of free radicals, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause increased oxidative stress.

Tenuazonic acid was also observed to have the ability to chelate heavy metals that directly contribute to increasing oxidative stress.