IDENTIFICATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITE COMPOUNDS IN TUNICATE (Polycarpa aurata) ASSOCIATED BACTERIA

Background: Marine biodiversity in the last few decades has been explored and utilized as marine natural products. The secondary metabolites produced by marine organisms are utilized by humans in various aspects of life. One of the main source of secondary metabolites is marine invertebrates, such as tunicate. Several previous studies have shown that many metabolites have been identified in the last 40 years.Objective: This study aimed to identify the metabolite compounds produced by tunicate-associated bacteria.Methods: The two isolates of bacteria associated with tunicate Polycarpa aurata, Bacillus wiedmannii and Virgibacillus salarius, obtained from the culture collection of Tropical Marine Biotechnology laboratory, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Diponegoro University, Semarang were used as material in this study. This study was carried out in Integrated Laboratory Diponegoro University from July to September 2020. Laboratory experiment was conducted by culturing these bacteria in Zobell Marine Broth 2216 at room temperature. The incubated culture was then added with ethyl acetate in a ratio of 1: 2 and then the supernatant was separated and evaporated. Analysis of the tunicate-associated bacteria methanol extract was carried out using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometry (GC-MS).Results: 3-N-Hexyl-Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol compound (100%) was discovered by GC-MS analysis from the tunicate-associated bacteria B. wiedmannii and V. salarius extract.Conclusion: 3-N-Hexyl-Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol compound is an isomer compound of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) which needs further research on its application in medical and non-medical aspects.