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.
