Characterization of antifouling metabolites from book gills and carapace of horseshoe crab, Tachypleus gigas

Abstract

Horseshoe crabs have roamed the world for almost 450 million years since the first fossil was discovered. Their survivality were due to various adaptations and potent defence system; in which hemolymph is one of them. Few studies emphasize on the horseshoe crabs book gills and carapace. The carapace was known as the armour that protects the soft tissue below them. Despite being submerged almost all the time and has a flat surface, the horseshoe crabs seem not to be affected much by biofouling phenomena. The objectives of this study were to determine the metabolite profiles of the book gills and carapace extracts, to identify the antifouling activities they possess and to characterize the metabolites that contributes to the antifouling activities. In this study, book gills and carapace crude extracts were screened for antifouling activities along with their modes of actions; detachment and preventive actions. Fractionations were conducted after the modes of action of the antifouling activities has been determined.