New Approach for Using of Mentha longifolia L. and Citrus reticulata L. Essential Oils as Wood-Biofungicides: GC-MS, SEM, and MNDO Quantum Chemical Studies

• Published in: Materials Vol. 14; no. 6; p. 1361
• Main Authors: Ali, Hayssam M, Elgat, Wael A A Abo, El-Hefny, Mervat, Salem, Mohamed Z M, Taha, Ayman S, Al Farraj, Dunia A, Elshikh, Mohamed S, Hatamleh, Ashraf A, Abdel-Salam, Eslam M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 11-03-2021
• Subjects: Mentha longifolia; MNDO quantum; fungi; Citrus reticulata; mass spectrometry; essential oils; antifungal activity; wood-biofungicide
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma14061361

Fungi growing on wood cause deterioration of stored food materials or discoloration of the wood itself, and the search for new and safe bioagents is recently needed.
Essential oils (EOs) from aerial parts from
L. and
L., analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), were tested for their antifungal activity by the vapor method against four common fungi,
,
,
, and
, and confirmed by SEM examination as the oils applied on wood samples.
The most abundant compounds identified in the EO from
were menthone and eucalyptol; in
EO, they were β-caryophyllene, β-caryophyllene oxide, and β-elemene. EOs from
and
, at 500 and 250 µL/mL, showed potent antifungal activity against
and
, with 100% fungal mycelial inhibition growth (FMIG).
and
EOs, at 125 µL/mL, observed FMIG values of 98% and 95%, respectively, against
.
EO, at 500 and 250 µL/mL, showed potent activity against
, with 100% FMIG.
completely inhibited (100% FMIG) EOs from
and
applied at 500 µL/mL.
Sarg. Wood, treated with
at 125 µL/mL, showed inhibition zone values of 7.33 and 21.33 mm against
and
, respectively.
Both oils possessed good wood-biofungicide activity with the vapor method, as clearly shown by the SEM examination. These activities suggest their possible use as natural wood preservatives.