Compound ldentification of the Methanolic Gut and Gonad Extracts of T. gratilla

JOHN RAFAEL AMBAG1, BLESSIE MARIE COMODERO1, BERNABE ANGEL SALAZAR1 and HAROLD MEDIODIA1
1Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Department of Science and Technology, Philippines


Abstract
Taking to account that microbial populations in seawater may reach numbers as high as 106/mL, it can be concluded that marine organisms, including sea urchins, are exposed in much harsher conditions in comparison to their terrestrial counterparts. Previous researches found out that various parts of Tripneustes gratilla manifest antimicrobial properties against an array of pathogenic bacteria, wherein the highest antimicrobial efiect resulted from the guts and gonad extracts; however, the bioactive compounds present in this extract are still unknown. Identification of such bioactive compounds is necessary for the confirmation and correlation of the bactericidal effects and also the possibility of discovering novel compounds from this species. The extract was subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The oven temperature was programmed from 110°C, with an increase of 10°C/min, to 200°C, then 5°C/min to 280°C, ending with a 9 min isothermal at 280° C. The whole sample ran for 36 minutes with the results identified by the systems spectral database. The chromatogram results showed a total of six prominent peaks. The compound n-hexadecanoic acid, which manifests antibacterial properties, was present in the sample alongside benzo[a]pyrene, 2,4-diisocyanato-1-methyl-benzene, both of which are carcinogenic and methadone N-oxide, a urinary metabolite; the presence of the two compounds suggest combustion of the sample due to the high temperatures utilized for the GC-MS procedure. From this, it can be concluded that certain compounds are present in the Tripneustes gratilla gut and gonads extract that can be attributed for its antimicrobial activity.