Biocidal Potential of Plants Extracts Against Wood-Degrading Microbes and Their In-Vitro Application on Wood: As Promising Wood Natural Preservatives

Abstract Background: Besides the increasing demand of wooden articles, there is a burning issue of microbial attack which affects the aesthetics of wood. Thus it is a current concern to protect the wooden articles from both fungal and bacterial attack by using toxin free preservatives. Results: Powder of Calotropis procera (leaves), Curcuma zedoaria (rhizome) and Swertia chirata (whole plant) was extracted with solvents like methanol, ethanol and chloroform and then the qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out, which exhibited the presence of different secondary metabolites. These extracts were also evaluated against wood degrading microbes (Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger) isolated from decaying wood. Our study demonstrated that the ethanol extract of S. chairata showed highest bactericidal potential against E.coli (19.0mm) and A. flavus (19.33mm). This study also revealed that S. chirata exhibited strongest biocidal spectrum of action followed by C. procera and C. zedaira. It was observed that laminated veneer treated with ethanol extract of S. chirata showed strong bactericidal potential against E.coli (82.67mm). On the other hand Syzygium cumini wood treated with ethanol extract of C. zedoaria exhibited high antibacterial potential against P. aeruginosa (58.0mm). The active plant extracts showed MIC's ranged from 3.6 to 6.0 mg/ml and MBC/MFC of 4.8 and 8.4 mg/ml. Conclusion: The results demonstrated the potential effects of selected plant extracts as a natural preservative that can protect wood from bacterial and fungal deterioration. The extracts can be applied to prevent furniture deterioration and raw wood protection.