Antifungal activities of plant extracts from Acorus calamus and Parthenium hysterophorus against decay fungi of wood

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antifungal activities of plant extracts of Acorus calamus and Parthenium hysterophorus The main aim of the study was to develop a natural, environmentally friendly wood preservative. In the present investigation, petroleum ether and methanol solvents were used for extraction. The wood samples of Pinus roxburghii were treated with plant extracts at five concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50, and 2% w/v) for 12 weeks. The treated and controlled wood samples were inoculated with the white rot and brown rot fungi. The wood samples treated with petroleum ether extracts of A. calamus showed maximum resistance to both fungi. While, the wood samples treated with methanol extract of P. hysterophorus showed maximum resistance against both the fungi. Further, it was also observed that the degradation of wood was decreasing with an increase in the concentration of plant extracts in the preservative solution. The efficacy of plant extracts was validated through the decay susceptibility index and the new decay susceptibility index. As per the results of the present study, A. calamus and P. hysterophorus have great potential as natural wood preservatives. The study helps in further development of natural wood preservatives from the selected plants.