Quantifications of phytochemicals and biocide actions of Lawsonia inermis linn. Extracts against wood termites and fungi

In this study, Lawsonia inermis stem bark and leaf extracts compounds were quantitatively determined using Spectrophoto-metric and Forlin-Ciocalteu methods. The wood protection abilities of the leaf extract (LILE) against termites and fungi were investigated on Triplochiton scleroxylon and Vitex doniana woods. Sample woods were treated with four different formulations (5%-20%) of LILE in 70% ethanol for three days. The treated wood block samples including control as reference were exposed to termites under field conditions and two fungi (white rot, Ganoderma lucidum and brown rot, Sclerotium rolfsii) under laboratory (RH = 65%, Temperature = 27 °C) conditions for six months. The leaf extract yield was 5.7%. The stem bark of L. inermis contained 273.16 ± 0.25 mg/g total alkaloids, 6.81 ± 0.10 mg/g total flavonoids, 51.39 ± 0.28 mg/g total phenol, 47.98 ± 0.27 mg/g total saponins and 54.22 ± 0.30 mg/g total tannins while the leaf contained 236.60 ± 1.32 mg/g total alkaloids, 4.43 ± 0.05 mg/g total flavonoids, 30.96 ± 1.15 mg/g total phenol, 21.41 ± 0.44 mg/g total saponins and 37.44 ± 0.24 mg/g total tannins. The results showed that the extractives compounds from L. inermis had significant biocide actions against both termite attack and fungi decay, and conclusively rendering the study findings promising for the future use as protective agent for wood.