In the present study, Melia azedarach wood samples that were treated with the methanolic extract of Musa paradisiaca L. peels were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities against Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Dickeya solani, Erwinia amylovora, Pseudomonas cichorii, Serratia pylmuthica, Fusarium culmorum, and Rhizoctonia solani. The strongest antibacterial activity was only found against A. tumefaciens (inhibition zone 90 mm), while the other bacterial strains showed resistance to wood that was treated with the extract. Potential antifungal activity against F. culmorum and R. solani was observed; the mycelial growth inhibition percentages reached 68.88% and 94.07%, respectively, in wood samples that were treated with the 3% methanolic extract of M. paradisiaca peel. HPLC analysis demonstrated the presence of seven phenolic compounds and three flavonoid compounds, as their peaks were matched with the standard compounds in a HPLC analysis. The major constituents of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in mg/100 g dry extract (DE) were ellagic acid (16.19), gallic acid (7.73), rutin (973.08), myricetin (11.52), and naringenin (8.47). The results demonstrated the potential effects of banana peel extract as a natural compound that can protect wood from molds while in use.

In the present study, Melia azedarach wood blocks treated with different acetone extract concentrations from Withania somnifera fruits are assessed for their antibacterial and anti-fungal activities. Wood blocks of M. azedarach treated with W. somnifera fruit extract at concentrations of 0, 1, 2, and 3% are evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial activity against five genbank accessioned bacterial strains—Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Dickeya solani, Erwinia amylovora, Pseudomonas cichorii, and Serratia pylumthica—and two fungi, namely, Fusarium culmorum and Rhizoctonia solani. Through HPLC analysis we find that the most abundant quantified phenolic and flavonoid compounds of acetone extract (mg/100 g) are salicylic acid (9.49), vanillic acid (4.78), rutin (4702.58), and myricetin (1386.62). Wood treated with the extract at 2% and 3% show no growth of A. tumefaciens, E. amylovora, and P. cichorii. Use of the extract at 3% causes inhibition of fungal mycelia of F. culmorum and R. solani by 84.07% and 67.03%, respectively. In conclusion, potent antifungal and antibacterial activity against plant pathogens is found when an acetone extract of W. somnifera fruits is applied to wood samples.

Callistemon viminalis (C. viminalis) is a plant that has been reported to have various medicinal values such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant activities and other pharmaceutical and insecticidal properties. This review covers the potentials, applications and properties of different extracts from different parts (branches, flowers, fruits, bark, leaves) of C. viminalis. Furthermore, the chemical structures of the bioactive compounds were reported for biological activities. All the results supported the traditional uses of C. viminalis in folk medicine. In addition, some researches supported the use of C. viminalis extracts for the preparation of metal oxide nanoparticles.

In the present study, the antifungal activity of wood treated with Pinus halepensis branch n-hexane oily liquid extract (OLE) and Schinus terebinthifolius branch essential oil (EO) was evaluated against the growth of four phytopathogenic fungi—Bipolaris oryzae, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, and Rhizoctonia solani. Air-dried wood samples of Pinus roxburghii were autoclaved, and each wood received 100 µL of the concentrated oils from P. halepensis and S. terebinthifolius. The main compounds identified in S. terebinthifolius branch EO were terpinen-4-ol (18.25%), cis-β-terpineol (15.60%), γ-terpinene (12.46%), sabinene (9.83%), α-terpinene (8.56%), and 4-thujanol (6.71%), while the main compounds in P. halepensis branch HeO were 2-undecenal (22.25%), 4-hydroxy-10-methyl-3,4,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-2H-oxecin-2-one (8.43%), (Z)-2-decenal (6.88%), nonanal (5.85%), (2E)-2-decenal (4.65%), (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (4.41%), arachidonic acid methyl ester (4.36%), and 2-(7-heptadecynyloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran (4.22%). P. halepensis OLE at a concentration of 3% showed the highest inhibition percentage of fungal growth (IPFG) of B. oryzae, followed by S. terebinthifolius EO at 3% and 2%, with IPFG values of 80%, 74.44%, and 71.66%, respectively. At a concentration of 3%, branch oils from S. terebinthifolius and P. halepensis were found to have the highest IPFG values with 45.55% and 40.55%, respectively, against F. oxysporum growth. Moderate to weak activity was found against F. solani when S. terebinthifolius EO and P. halepensis OLE were applied to wood. EO and OLE-treated wood samples at 3% produced inhibitions of 54.44% and 41.11%, respectively, against R. solani.

Management of Spodoptera littoralis infestation has been achieved by using chemical insecticides; however, the environment-friendly methods without unwanted side effects of these chemicals are becoming very important in modern pest management strategies. Natural products including plant extracts and oils are some of the alternative approaches in pest control. In the present work, insecticidal activities of oils from garlic cloves (Allium sativum), and ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale) were evaluated on S. littoralis by means of sublethal concentrations. The essential oils were extracted and their chemical composition was identified using a GC Ultra-ISQ mass spectrometer. The results showed that there were highly significant differences between all treatments and the control in some biological aspects. The larval and pupal duration was significantly prolonged, also pupal weight increased for all treatments when compared to the control. The percentage of hatchability of deposited eggs was significantly ...

Background: 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. Methods: Essential oils (EOs) from aerial parts from Mentha longifolia L. and Citrus reticulata L., analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), were tested for their antifungal activity by the vapor method against four common fungi, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. fumigatus, and Fusarium culmorum, and confirmed by SEM examination as the oils applied on wood samples. Results: The most abundant compounds identified in the EO from M. longifolia were menthone and eucalyptol; in C. reticulata EO, they were β-caryophyllene, β-caryophyllene oxide, and β-elemene. EOs from M. longifolia and C. reticulata, at 500 and 250 µL/mL, showed potent antifungal activity against A. flavus and A. fumigatus, with 100% fungal mycelial inhibition growth (FMIG). C. reticulata and M. longifolia EOs, at 125 µL/mL, observed FMIG values of 98% and 95%, respectively, against A. fumigatus. M. longifolia EO, at 500 and 250 µL/mL, showed potent activity against A. niger, with 100% FMIG. F. culmorum completely inhibited (100% FMIG) EOs from M. longifolia and C. reticulata applied at 500 µL/mL. Pinus roxburghii Sarg. Wood, treated with M. longifolia at 125 µL/mL, showed inhibition zone values of 7.33 and 21.33 mm against A. flavus and A. niger, respectively. Conclusions: 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.