Abstract
The antifungal properties of poisonous plant extracts from oleanders (Nerium oleander L.) were determined when used as a wood preservative. The extract was prepared from oleanders leaves and flowers in 96% ethyl alcohol. The wood blocks of Turkish oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were impregnated with the extracts. The abilities of the extract to suppress attack by Postia placenta (Fr.) (brown rot) and Trametes versicolor (L: Fr.) Quel. (a white-rot) was investigated. Treated blocks were exposed to P. placenta and T. versicolor attacks for 12 weeks by following the soil-block method. While untreated wood specimens have weight loss ranging between 27.37 and 30.66% for P. placenta and 8.64 and 24.06% for T. versicolor, the wood treated with the extracts is of weight loss between 5.54 and 10.98% for P. placenta, and between 5.02 and 28.25% for T. versicolor. The lowest weight loss was found to be for beech wood (5.02%) impregnated with the extract of oleander at a concentration level of 0.25% against T. versicolor. While the highest weight loss was also on the beech wood (28.25%) treated with the same extract at the level of 0.50% concentration against T. versicolor. In conclusion, the extracts could be used as effective wood preservative.
Highlights
Throughout the course of history wood has remained one of the most important renewable natural resources available to man
The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of natural poisonous plant extracts from Oleander (N. oleander L.) in suppressing P. placenta and T. versicolor attacks to treated sapwood of Turkish oriental beech (F. orientalis L.) and Scots pine (P. sylvestris L.)
The results reveal that beech wood impregnated by N. oleander extracts at 0.25, 0.50 and 3.00% is effective in suppressing attack of P. placenta, but 0.50 and 3.00% were not effective against T. versicolor
Summary
Throughout the course of history wood has remained one of the most important renewable natural resources available to man. As a natural organic material wood is degraded by many organisms, principally fungi and insects (Schultz and Nicholas, 2002). It is generally treated with a chemical preservative to prevent damage by these aggressive biodeteriogens (Craig et al, 2001). Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and many biocides were prohibited at many European countries long time ago due to their detrimental effect on the natural balance and human health. In recent years, Wood Preservation Industry prefers non-chemical based and vegetable based chemicals for wood treatments. Since some natural extractives contain tannin or have toxic effects against biotic agents, they could be preferred for protecttion of wood or wood based objects against destroying organisms (Schultz and Nicholas, 2000)
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