Evaluation of biocidal properties of Terminalia spinosa and their role in heartwood durability.

Abstract

Heartwood of Terminalia spinosa was subjected to sohxlet extraction and analysed for anti-fungal and antitermite assays. It was also analysed for causes of its exceptional durability. Two white rot fungi, Coriolus versicolor and Antrodia species, two brown rot fungi Poria placenta and Gloeophyllum trabeum and the termite Macrotermes jeanneli were used to determine durability based on growth inhibition, weight loss and termite mortality. 1 HNMR and 13C NMR spectra of heartwood extractives were recorded in methanol on a Bruker AM 400 spectrometer. All extracts caused significant growth inhibition to the white rot and brown rot fungi. T. spinosa heartwood was very resistant termites. When eaten by the termites, the extracts caused significant percent loss in body weight accompanied by deaths of about 95% of the worker and soldier termites. They were also fungitoxic rather than fungistatic. 1 HNMR and 13C NMR and FTIR spectra revealed presence of steareic acid and palmitic acid.