Bio-active constituents of rotenoids resin extracted from Derris elliptica roots:comparison between local plant extract and SAPHYR (France)cube resin

Abstract

It is well known now that some plant species represent an efficient factory of chemicals, which are manufactured and used as bio-weapons against pest attacks. Extensive work has been done since the last few decades on these potentially useful compounds. During the last few decades a growing interest was directed towards a safer agricultural production such as free residual toxicity hazards to human beings and to the environment. For instance, plant-based extracts biocides possess a greater advantage compared with the chemical ones. Their efficacies are also acceptable. In this work, the aim is to standardize and determine the bio-active constituents extracted from local plant of Derris species (Derris elliptica) by using an internal standard method of reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) system. The raw plants were collected from Kota Johor Lama, Malaysia and sorted to collect the roots and stems. Rotenoids resin from the roots and stems were extracted by using a normal soaking extraction (NSE) method at 30 ± 2 °C. A solvent of acetone with an optimum solvent-to-solid ratio of 10 ml/g was utilized in the extraction process. The extraction was carried out for 24 hrs and the extract was filtered to remove any fine debris prior to the RP-HPLC analysis. The commercially available rotenoids resin cube of SAPHYR (France) was analyzed to compare and verify the bio-active constituents available with the extract of local plant species. The RP-HPLC analysis results showed the elicited distinguishable patterns of the bio-active constituents between the extract of Derris elliptica and commercial grade of rotenoids cube resin. This extract has a great potential to be used as insecticidal products. However, the rotenone content is still low as compared to the commercial grade rotenoids resin. For that reason, a plant tissue culture is needed to produce a hybrid species between Derris elliptica and Amazonia species so that high yield of rotenone could be attained.