Anti-termite and anti-fungal bio-sourced wood preservation ingredients from Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam resin

Abstract

Dacryodes edulis (G. Don) H.J. Lam resin was hydro-distilled to recover essential oil (EO), and further purified to produce a heavy fraction constituting less volatile compounds. Chemical composition was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and indicated that different monoterpenes and triterpenes were present depending on the analyzed fraction. Bioassays were performed on the different fractions to evaluate their anti-fungal and anti-termite properties. Results indicated that crude resin, its heavy fraction and its EO all had proved termicidal properties, which decrease on drying for EO and crude resin due to evaporation of monoterpenes. Conversely, no anti-fungal properties were observed for any fraction. Dacryodes edulis resin is therefore a new valuable bioactive ingredient for the formulation of wood protection products with anti-termite properties.