Screening method for wood extractives: direct cellulose thin-layer chromatography plate

Abstract

A method for screening wood extractives was developed using cellulose thin-layer chromatography plate (Cell-TLC) separation and was directly applied to bioassays. Wood meal (≪60 mesh) from nangka (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk) heartwood was extracted with hot methanol. The crude extract was separated using a Cell-TLC plate (50 × 50 mm). Two broad bands with R _f values of 0.46 and 0.96 were found, and the bands showed completely different effects against the pest termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and the decay fungus Fomitopsis palustris. The band with R _f 0.46 was preferentially consumed by workers of C. formosanus, and it did not show any growth inhibition against F. palustris when the Cell-TLC plate was directly exposed to the organism. In contrast, the band with R _f 0.96 appeared to repel strongly the feeding by C. formosanus and inhibited the growth of F. palustris. It was concluded that the Cell-TLC system was applicable for screening wood extracts consisting of many compounds.