article · Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants
Pelargonium graveolens essential oil and its distilled fractions were chemically analysed and assessed for antifungal effectiveness against four wood decay fungi: Coniophora puteana, Coriolus versicolor, Poria placenta, and Gloeophyllum trabeum. Chemical profiling identified fifty-four constituents in the complete essential oil, dominated by citronellol and geraniol, along with citronellyl formate, linalool, beta-eudesmol, geranyl formate, and iso-menthone. Distillation yielded three fractions that shared qualitative similarities with the whole oil but varied in the relative proportions of their major compounds, with fraction three showing statistically significant compositional variations. Laboratory testing using a macrodilution method established that the whole essential oil inhibited all target fungi, with median effective concentrations ranging between 0.255 and 1.022 milligrams per millilitre. Fractions one and two yielded comparable inhibitory ranges, whilst fraction three demonstrated strong antifungal activity against all tested species.
Fungal decay compromises timber durability and causes substantial economic losses in wood-reliant sectors. Identifying botanical compounds with fungicidal properties supports the search for bio-based alternatives to synthetic preservatives. This study shows that essential oils from Pelargonium graveolens, especially specific distilled fractions, effectively halt the growth of several major fungi responsible for damaging wood.
This work represents early-stage laboratory research that could eventually inform formulations for timber preservation and wood protection. Potential users include manufacturers of natural wood preservatives and the timber processing industry seeking plant-derived alternatives to conventional fungicides. However, practical application remains distant, as the findings rely on laboratory assays and require further testing on real wood substrates, durability assessments, and formulation optimisation.
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In order to valorize Moroccan aromatic and medicinal plants, this study focused on both the chemical characterization and the study of the antifungal activity of Pelargonium graveolens essential oil and its fractions against four fungi that are responsible for wood decay (Coniophora puteana, Coriolus versicolor, Poria placenta and Gloeophyllum trabeum). The essential oils were analyzed by Gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and evaluated for antifungal activity, using the macrodilution method for the determination of EC50. The GC/MS essential oil analysis has led to the identification of 54 components. Citronellol (25.24 %), geraniol (23.36 %), citronellyl formate (8.35 %), linalool (7.11 %), β-eudesmol (6.13 %), geranyl formate (4.26 %) and iso-menthone (3.37 %), were identified as the major components. Fractions 1, 2 and 3 essential oils have displayed qualitative similarities with the EO sample, and quantitative differences among the relative percentages of major compounds were observed. A significant difference (p < 0.0001) was shown in main compounds of fraction 3 obtained by fractional distillation. P. graveolens essential oil has inhibited all fungi with a value of EC50 between 0.255 to 1.022 mg/mL. The EC50 values of fractions 1 and 2 are ranging from 0.292 to 1.022 mg/mL. The fraction 3 exhibited a great antifungal activity against all tested fungi. These results support the potential use of P. graveolens essential oils and its fractions for wood protection against wood decay fungi.
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DOI: 10.1080/0972060x.2019.1646164
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