Contribution of Extractives to Fungal and Termite Resistance of Brazilian Wood Bagassa guianensis AUBL

The heartwood of Bagassa guianensis AUBL., which grows widely in South America, is empirically known to be durable against fungal and insects decay. In this study, we evaluated the fungal and termite resistance of B. guianensis wood, and conducted the separation of substances having the antifungal and antitermite properties. As the results, B. guianensis wood has excellent durability against both fungi (Trametes versicolor (L.:Fr.)PILAT and Fomitopsis palustris(BERK. et CURT. ) MURR.) and termite (Coptotermes formosanus SHIRAKI ). The antifungal components were found in both chloroform and methanol extracts, while most of the strong antitermite activity was observed in the methanol extracts. The methanol extracts were subjected to two-dimensional thin layer chromatography (TLC) on a cellulose plate and were examined for their effects on feeding behavior of termite by a choice test. Some substances having high polarity on a cellulose TLC were found in the portion where was not attacked by termites. The method using a cellulose TLC described here appears to be applicable for separation of antitermite substances from the crude extracts.