The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 12 No 1 (2008): 234 – 239

 

 

TOXICITY AND ANTITERMITE ACTIVITIES OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS FROM PIPER SARMENTOSUM

 

T. C. Chieng, Z. B. Assim and B. A. Fasihuddin

 

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak

 

Abstract

The leaves of Piper sarmentosum were hydrodistilled using the modified Clevenger-type apparatus, and an average yield of essential oil of 1.10% (v/dry weight) was obtained. The leaf oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. A total of 31 components were identified. Spathulenol (21.0%), myristicin (18.8%), β-caryophyllene  (18.2%) and (E,E)-farnesol (10.5%) were the major compounds found in the leaf oil. The leaf oil showed inhibitory activity against the larvae of Artemia salina with LC₅₀ value of 35.2 µg/mL, and 100% mortality within two days at 1% concentration against the subterranean termite (Coptotermes sp.). The crude extract was then subjected to bioassay-guided isolation using silica gel column chromatography, and eluted with hexane containing increasing volumes of ethyl acetate and yielded three pure compounds. Their toxicity and antitermite activities of the three compounds were determined. Compound 2 showed the most potent activity against the larvae of A. salina with LC₅₀   value of 7.5 µg/mL, while the LC₅₀   values for compound 3 and compound 1 were 17.2 µg/mL and 22.5 µg/mL respectively. Compound 3 showed the strongest inhibitory activity against the subterranean termite (Coptotermes sp.) with 100% mortality after 3 days at 0.1% concentration followed by compound 2 with the same mortality  rate at 0.5% concentration. Compound 1 showed the weakest inhibitory activity with 80% mortality after 3 days at 2%  concentration. Based  on  spectroscopic  data  and  comparison with  published information,  compound 1  and  2  have  been identified as caryophyllene and myristicin respectively. Compound 3 is still being studied in order to elucidate its structure.

 

Keywords: Piper sarmentosum; essential oil; bioassay-guided isolation; toxicity; antitermite activity

 

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