Abstract
The chemical profile of the Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae) essential oil (EO) was investigated in order to evaluate its biological properties against microorganisms affecting two Tholu Bommalu, typical Indian leather puppets stored at the International Puppets Museum “Antonio Pasqualino” of Palermo, Italy. A GC–MS analysis, using both polar and apolar columns, was used to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of the Thymus vulgaris and Crithmum maritimum essential oils in vapor phase to disinfect heritage leather puppets. Pieces of leather artifacts that were affected by different bacterial colonies were exposed to EO under vacuum and static evaporation conditions. The results presented showed that the vaporization of essential oil was an efficient method in the disinfection of natural skins, eradicating microorganism in short times. T. vulgaris EO in the 50% solution showed excellent inhibitory activity against isolated bacteria with both methods, but the obtained results suggest that the vacuum method allowed for faster exposition of the artifacts to the biocide. Furthermore, the biocidal properties of the essential oil of a Sicilian accession of Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae) aerial parts were compared and investigated. The results of the latter essential oil showed a poor activity against the isolated micro-organisms.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons accounted for only 4.34%; no oxygenated sesquiterpenes were identified in the chromatogram of the essential oil (EO)
The present work focused on determining the yield, the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Thymus vulgaris and Crithmum maritimum essential oils
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Biodeterioration of cultural heritage causes different alteration processes affecting the constitutive materials of artworks. Fungi and bacteria are able to colonize different artworks comprised of natural materials through aerosol pollution, representing complex problems for conservation by causing a loss of mechanic resistance and deterioration of pictorial layers. Inadequate exposure to specific thermo-hygrometric parameters can increase the concentrations of microbial colonies, enhancing the deterioration process. For the purpose of inhibiting the biological colonization, different chemical biocides, such as permethrin or/and benzalkonium chloride (BAK), are frequently used
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