Anti-termite activity from the lipophilic fractions of Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell heartwood

Eucalyptus pellita is one of the tree species utilized as a building material for homes and the high utilization necessitates an investigation on heartwood extractives anti-termite activity. The sample was extracted using methanol, and successively with a combination of n-hexane and ethyl acetate, as well as dichloromethane. Furthermore, the constituents from n-hexane and ethyl acetate extract were separated by column chromatography to obtain Fr. 1–Fr. 3, and all fractions were subjected to tests for anti-termite activity. Characterization of isolated compound identified globulol, methyl palmitate, stigmasta-3,5-diene in Fr. 1, stigmasta-3,5-diene and cycloeucalenyl acetate in Fr. 2, and cycloeucalenyl acetate in Fr. 3. The result showed moderate activity, especially from the isolates of Fr. 2, in the aspect of high mortality (58.3 ± 14.4), while Fr. 3 demonstrated the lowest value of mass loss (0.4 ± 0.2 mg). This study outcome further reveals the effect of steroid and triterpenoid compounds on anti-termite and antifeedant activity.