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Excellent anti-mildew effect of essential oil impregnation on sliced veneer plybamboo and its anti-mildew mechanism

Summary

Researchers discovered that clove essential oil is highly effective at preventing mold growth on decorative bamboo veneer materials. The natural oil damages fungal cell membranes and disrupts their internal chemistry, killing the mold without toxic chemicals. When bamboo sheets were treated with clove oil before assembly, they showed excellent resistance to common molds. This provides a green, sustainable alternative to harsh chemical treatments while maintaining product quality.

Background

Sliced bamboo veneer is a high-end decorative material susceptible to mildew contamination due to its high content of starch and soluble sugars. Traditional chemical mildew inhibitors raise environmental and health concerns. Essential oils from spices offer a green and sustainable alternative for antimildew treatment.

Objective

To evaluate the antifungal activity of three spice essential oils (clove, oregano, and fennel) against common bamboo mildews and determine the mechanisms of action, with the goal of developing an eco-friendly mildew prevention method for sliced veneer plybamboo.

Results

Clove essential oil demonstrated the strongest antifungal activity with inhibition zone diameters of 25.68 mm, 23.22 mm, 30.68 mm, and 25.43 mm against Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium citrinum, and mixed mildews respectively. MIC values ranged from 1.37-1.42 mg/mL and MFC values from 1.56-1.80 mg/mL. Clove oil damaged mycelial cell membranes and disrupted intracellular pH balance. Treated sliced veneer plybamboo achieved 100% inhibition against P. citrinum.

Conclusion

Clove essential oil is a highly effective and sustainable antifungal agent for protecting sliced veneer plybamboo from mildew contamination. Its mechanism involves damaging cell membranes and disrupting pH balance in mildew cells. This eco-friendly approach preserves product quality while offering a practical alternative to toxic chemical treatments in bamboo processing.
  • Published in:Microbiology Spectrum,
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: 10.1128/spectrum.01652-24, PMID: 39387557
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