Determination of the major compounds in the extract of the subterranean termite Macrotermes gilvus Hagen digestive tract by GC-MS method

Abstract

degradation of woody components by termites is associated with symbionts inside their digestive tract. In this study, the major compounds were determined in the extract of the termite guts by gC-mS method. macrotermes gilvus Hagen (worker caste) termites were collected and their dissected guts underwent methanol extraction. It was found that the gut of the termites has an alkaline environment (pH 8.83 ± 0.31) that supports the digestion of lignocellulose biomass and also helps to solubilize phenolic and recalcitrant compounds resul ting from the depolymerization of woody components. the gC-mS analysis showed that termite guts contained hydrophobic organosilicon components including dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, tetradecamethylcyclohexasiloxane, hexadecamethylcyclooctasiloxane, and octasiloxane, 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7,9,9,11,11,13,13,15,15-hexadecamethylT ermites are well-studied social insects that consume lignocellulose and soil materials. Their gut comprises five compartments, which are differentiated by pH, amounts of lignocellulose enzymes, and levels of oxygen and hydrogen gasses [1]. The polymer-feeding behavior of termites is intensely supported by the microbial community that exists in their gut [2]. Termites possess a twotiered enzyme system, which includes the termites' digestive enzymes and the microbial community enzymes. The two types of enzymes work together to degrade the plant polymers, break down the lignocellulose, and detoxify plant secondary metabolites; interestingly, they also provide enzyme inhibition [3,4]. The digestion of the lignocellulosic materials in the termite gut involves three main stages: (1) hydrolysis; (2) oxidation, fermentation, or both; and (3) acetogenesis, methanogenesis, or both [5].The hypoxic periphery of the termites' digestive tract has been found to be inhabited by prokaryotic species that consume O 2 , resulting in anoxic conditions in the gut. However, aerobic bacteria are also found in the gut. It is therefore reasonable to expect that microbial community members have multiple ecological functions, especially given their ubiquitous presence in different termite species [6,7].The subterranean termite macrotermes gilvus Hagen is an abundant species in Indonesia. Owing to ISSN 2409-4943. Ukr. Biochem. J., 2017 its abundance and its consumption of woody materials, it is an especially destructive and costly species of termite. Nevertheless, their digestion process in utilizing the wooden structures is interesting, especially in the context of the biofuels and biomate rials industries [8,9]. The unique digestive system of termites features digestive tract enzymes as well as microfauna symbionts. The two-tiered system makes the termite digestion process complex and difficult to study. The goal of this research was to analyze the chemical properties of the termite gut, where the enzymatic degradation of woody particles results in the depolymerization of lignocellulose and cellulose components [8][9][10]. An additional objective of this research was to use gas chromatography-...

Colony Composition and Biomass of Macrotermes Gilvus Hagen (Blattodea: Termitidae) in Indonesia

“…The worker's gut fungus-growing subterranean termites (Macrotermes) secreted enzymes used for final oligosaccharides digestion [7]. Gut of subterranean termites M. gilvus Hagen worker was in alkaline condition (pH 8.83 ± 0.31) and strongly supported the lignocellulose digestion [8]. These workers also transported enzymes from mature fungi to the inoculated plant substrate [9].…”

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Lavandula coronopifolia Poir Extracts: A Comparison between Callus Culture and Native Plant

“…Based on previous literature, 4H dibenz[de,g]isoquinoline,5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-1,2,9,10-tetramethoxy-5-methyl- [28], hydromethylsiloxane [29], and silane, 1,4-phenylenebis [trimethyl] [30] have antioxidant activities; heptasiloxane, 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7,9,9,11,11,13,13-tetradecamethyl- [31] has antimicrobial activities, and amongst these benefcial compounds, borneol [32], thymol [33], benzoic acid, 2,5 bis(trimethylsiloxy)-, trimethylsilyl ester [34], octasiloxane, 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7,9,9,11,11,13,13,15,15-hexadecamethyl- [35], cyclotrisiloxane, hexamethyl- [36], N-cyano-N′,N′,N″,N″tetramethyl-1,3,5-triazinetriamine [37], acetic acid, [4-(1,1dimethylethyl)phenoxy]-, methyl ester [38], and hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane [39] showed antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. In addition to this, the existence of various bioactive chemicals such as dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane and dodecamethylpentasiloxane, with positive uses in the cosmetic sector, such as personal care products [40,41], was also discovered by GC-MS analysis of aqueous extracts of calluses. Medicinal plants have rich biodiversity and can produce valuable compounds, even though terrestrial biodiversity forms the foundation of the pharmaceutical industry.…”

Termite diversity and abundance based on altitude in Mount Ungaran, Central Java, Indonesia

“…Termites are very susceptible to environmental conditions around them, especially temperature and humidity, both in the soil and in the air. Environmental factors that lead to conditions being less than what the termites need or exceed their tolerance limit will affect their survival, by wind/dry air, thus requiring stable humidity (Subekti et al 2017). The results of observations of environmental factors can be seen in the table below.…”