Potentiality of phytochemical compounds isolated and identified from Jatropha curcas L. against Odontotermes obesus Rambur

Abstract

Infestations of termites in agricultural fields as well as in domestic and industrial areas have been one of the major problems incurring a great economic loss since long. Chemical pesticides are being used to prevent the devastating action of termites which are deterrent for termites but concomitantly hazardous for health, damage ecological cycles and are perdurable in nature for long. In search of alternatives, the present study was aimed to isolate an active termiticidal phytochemical from Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) against termite species, Odontotermes obesus Rambur. Acetone, chloroform, n-hexane, methanol and distilled water extracts of stem and leaves were prepared and chemical composition was checked. The results indicated that extracts of leaves possessed higher quantities of phytoconstituents than stems. To know the termiticidal potential, extracts of leaves and stems were applied at a dose range of 0.5–4 gm/ml solvent to Whatman filter papers No. 1, allowed to dry, and presented to termites in Petri-plates in specialized termite box maintained at 27 ± 5 °C with 70 ± 5 % relative humidity. Mortality of termites was recorded twice at 24 h and 48 h post-exposure. To know active phytochemicals against termites, isolated phytochemicals were subjected to termiticidal assay in which terpenoid fractions exhibited highest termiticidal potential. The mixture of terpenoids were isolated using TLC in which ten bands of phytochemicals were detected coined JC-1 to JC-10 and the most active fraction JC-6 was identified as of benzyl oleate, benzyl (6Z, 9Z, 12Z) 6,9,12 octadecatrionate; followed by JC-9 as tert- hexadacanethio; while JC10 was a mixture of phenol 2,4 diterbutyl, 1-methylundecyl trifluroacetate, and benzyl acetate (9Z, 12Z) 9,12 octadecadionate. The present study indicates that J. curcas contains anti-termiticidal compounds and that can be used to prevent termite infestation. This plant could be exploited further for production of bio-pesticides.