Antifungal Activity of the Monoterpenes Carvacrol, p-Cymene, Eugenol, and Iso-Eugenol When Applied to Wood against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium culmorum

Abstract

This work was designed to evaluate the bioactivity of four monoterpenes, namely carvacrol, p-cymene, eugenol, and iso-eugenol, applied to wood blocks from Pinus sylvestris sapwood using the vapor method against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium culmorum. These monoterpenes were prepared at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 µL/mL. The highest fungal inhibition percentage (FIP, 24.4%) against the growth of A. flavus was observed for p-cymene when applied to a wood sample at 100 µL/mL. The highest FIPs observed against the growth of A. niger were 21.5% and 16.3%, by p-cymene and iso-eugenol, respectively, at 100 µL/mL. The highest FIPs observed against the growth of F. culmorum were 41.5 and 27.0% by the application of carvacrol at 100 µL/mL and 80 µL/mL, respectively. This study showed the importance of monoterpenes for antifungal activity and may contribute to the most rational use of these compounds as antimicrobial agents for wood protection.