Antifungal activities of four cedar foliage oils to wood stain or decay fungi

Abstract

Antifungal activities of essential oils have been extensively studied and these materials have the potential to replace synthetic biocides. In this study, the chemical composition of Leyland cypress (× Cupressocyparis leylandii), Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), and Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) foliage oils were determined and their antifungal activities on wood were analyzed. GC-MS analysis showed that monoterpenoids represented more than 90 percent of the oils except Port Orford cedar oil, where monoterpenoids comprised only one third of the oil. Cedar oils were reduced the growth of selected mold fungi and were capable of some inhibition of decay fungi, but could not completely protect wood from stain or decay fungi.