Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ex-situ performance of extracts from naturally durable heartwood species and their potential as wood preservatives

  • Original
  • Published:
European Journal of Wood and Wood Products Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To avoid the use of toxic synthetic chemicals due to their potential environmental impacts, the feasibility of using heartwood extracts of Tectona grandis and Cedrus deodara as wood preservatives against the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes and two basidiomycete decay fungi, Trametes versicolor and Rhodonia placenta, was investigated in laboratory experiments. There were no significant differences in feeding for R. flavipes fed solvent-extracted and non-extracted T. grandis in choice and no-choice tests with 100% mortality. Reticulitermes flavipes ignored non-extracted C. deodara (mass loss 1.93%) in choice tests and consumed significantly more solvent extracted C. deodara (mass loss 33.4%) with 64.9% mortality. Complete termite mortality (100%) was observed after exposure to non-extracted C. deodara versus 53% mortality when fed on extracted C. deodara in a no-choice test. When extracted and non-extracted blocks of each wood species were exposed to decay fungi, durability of both heartwood species was reduced post extraction. Extracts removed from wood shavings via Soxhlet extraction were used to treat non-durable southern pine and cottonwood. Both extracts imparted termite resistance to the non-durable species. Weight losses of both non-durable species were reduced at the highest extract concentration tested (10 mg ml−1), and were inversely related to extract concentrations and retentions. Significantly higher termite mortality was observed at the maximum extract concentration tested for either extract. Water leaching of non-durable wood species treated with T. grandis extract did not reduce termite resistance, and no significant difference between mortality of termites on leached versus non-leached samples was observed. Conversely, the weight loss of wood treated with C. deodara extract was significantly greater post leaching. T. grandis and C. deodara extracts showed no protective effects at tested concentrations against decay fungi when applied to non-durable southern pine or cottonwood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adegeye A, Ogunsanwo O, Olajuyigbe S (2009) Antifungal activities of heartwood extract (HWE) of teak Tectona grandis against two white rots in woods of Gmelina arborea and Triplochiton scleroxylon. Acad. J. Plant Sci 2:279–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Akhtar MS (1981) Feeding responses to wood and wood extracts by Bifiditermes beesoni (Gardner) (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae). Inter Biodeter Bull 17:21–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Akhtar M, Jabeen M (1981) Responses of Coptotermes heimi (Wasmann) (Isoptera) to woods, wood extracts and essential oils of timbers. Mater Organ 163:199–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Arango RA, Green F III, Hintz K, Lebow PK, Miller RB (2006) Natural durability of tropical and native woods against termite damage by Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar). Int Biodeterior Biodegradation 57:146–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asamoah A, Frimpong-Mensah K, Antwi-Boasiako C (2011) Efficacy of Tectona grandis (Teak) and Distemonanthus benthamianus (Bonsamdua) water extractives on the on the durability of five selected Ghanaian less used timber species. Pak J Chem 1:28–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Astiti NPA, Suprapta DN (2012) Antifungal activity of teak (Tectona grandis Lf) leaf extract against Arthrinium phaeospermum (Corda) MB Ellis, the cause of wood decay on Albizia falcataria (L.). FOSBERG J ISSAAS 18:62–69

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (2014) D1105-96—standard test method for preparation of extractive-free wood. ASTM International, American Society for Testing Materials, West Conshocken, pp 147–148

    Google Scholar 

  • AWPA (2017a) E1-17 standard method for laboratory evaluation to determine resistance to subterranean termites. AWPA Book of Standards. American Wood Protection Association, Birmingham, pp 387–395

    Google Scholar 

  • AWPA (2017b) E10-16 laboratory method for evaluating the decay resistance of wood-based materials against pure basidiomycete cultures: soil/block test. AWPA Book of Standards. American Wood Protection Association, Birmingham

    Google Scholar 

  • AWPA (2017c) E11-16 standard method for accelerated evaluation of preservative leaching. AWPA Book of Standards. American Wood Protection Association, Birmingham

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhat K, Thulasidas P, Florence EM, Jayaraman K (2005) Wood durability of home-garden teak against brown-rot and white-rot fungi. Trees 19:654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhat U, Khalil H, Shuib NS, Noorr A (2010) Antifungal activity of heartwood extracts and their constituents from cultivated Tectona grandis against Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Wood Res 55:59–66

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brocco VF, Paes JB, da Costa LG, Brazolin S, Arantes MDC (2017) Potential of teak heartwood extracts as a natural wood preservative. J Clean Prod 142:2093–2099

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang S-T, Wang S-Y, Wu C-L, Su Y-C, Kuo Y-H (1999) Antifungal compounds in the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the extractives of Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata) heartwood. Holzforschung 53:487–490

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng S-S, Lin H-Y, Chang S-T (2005) Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oils from different tissues of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). J Agric Food Chem 53:614–619

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhry L, Khan Z, Kulshrestha D (1997) Comparative in vitro and in vivo evaluation of himachalol in murine invasive aspergillosis Indian. J Exp Biol 35:727–734

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dungani R, Khalil HA, Naif A, Hermawan D (2012) Evaluation of antitermitic activity of different extracts obtained from Indonesian teakwood (Tectona grandis Lf). BioResources 7:1452–1461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EN 350–1 (1994) European standard: Wood and wood based products—natural durability of wood—part 1: principles of testing and classification of the natural durability of wood. European Committee for Standardization, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Esenther GR (1977) Nutritive supplement method to evaluate resistance of natural or preservative-treated wood to subterranean termites. J Econ Entomol 70:341–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S, Walia A, Malan R (2011) Phytochemistry and pharmacology of Cedrus deodera: an overview. Int J Pharm Sci Res 2:2010

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassan B, Mankowski M, Kirker GT, Ahmed S, ul Haq MM (2016a) Antitermitic activities of Shisham (Dalbergia Sissoo Roxb.) heartwood extractives against two termite species. In: Proceedings IRG annual meeting (ISSN 2000-8953), IRG/WP 16-10856, pp 1–16

  • Hassan B, Ahmed S, ul Haq MM, Mankowski M E, Nasir M (2016b). Antitermitic activities of Pinus roxburghii wood extractives against Heterotermes indicola (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). In: Proceedings of VII international scientific agriculture symposium, “Agrosym 2016”, 6–9 October 2016, Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. University of East Sarajevo, Faculty of Agriculture, pp 1567–1575

  • Hassan B, Mankowski ME, Kirker G, Ahmed S (2017) Effects of heartwood extractives on symbiotic protozoan communities and mortality in two termite species Int Biodeterior. Biodegradation 123:27–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan B, Ahmed S, Kirker G, Mankowski ME, Misbah-ul-Haq M (2018a) Antioxidant effects of four heartwood extractives on midgut enzyme activity in Heterotermes indicola (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae). Environ Entomol 47:741–748

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan B, Mankowski M, Kirker G, Clausen C, Ahmed S (2018b) Effects of white mulberry (Morus alba) heartwood extract against Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae). J Econ Entomol 111:1337–1345

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan B, Ahmed S, Mankowski M, Kirker G, Ibach R, ul Haq MM (2018c) Effects of Teak, Tectona grandis Linn, heartwood extractives against Heterotermes indicola (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). In: Proceedings IRG annual meeting (ISSN 2000-8953), IRG/WP 18-10910, pp 1–16

  • Hassan B, Ahmed S, Mehmood N, Mankowski ME, Misbah-ul-Haq M (2019) Toxicity potential of heartwood extractives from two mulberry species against Heterotermes indicola. Maderas Ciencia y Tecnol 21:153–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinterstoisser B, Stefke B, Schwanninger M (2000) Wood: raw material-material-source of energy for the future. Lignovisionen 2:29–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Hwang WJ, Kartal SN, Yoshimura T, Imamura Y (2007) Synergistic effect of heartwood extractives and quaternary ammonium compounds on termite resistance of treated wood. Pest Manag Sci 63:90–95

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ismayati M, Nakagawa-Izumi A, Kamaluddin N, Ohi H (2016) Toxicity and feeding deterrent effect of 2-methylanthraquinone from the wood extractives of Tectona grandis on the subterranean termites Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus. Insects 7:63

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kadir R, Ali NM, Soit Z, Khamaruddin Z (2014) Anti-termitic potential of heartwood and bark extract and chemical compounds isolated from Madhuca utilis Ridl. HJ Lam and Neobalanocarpus heimii King PS Ashton Holzforschung 68:713–720

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kadir R, Awang K, Khamaruddin Z, Soit Z (2015) Chemical compositions and termiticidal activities of the heartwood from Calophyllum inophyllum L. An Acad Bras Ciênc 87:743–751

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kibet S, Sirmah P, Mburu F, Muisu F (2013) Wood dimensional stability and extractives as reasons for termite and fungal resistance of the lesser-known Albizia malacophylla Kenyan wood species. J Ind Acad Wood Sci 10:48–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim J-W, Harper DP, Taylor AM (2009) Effect of extractives on water sorption and durability of wood-plastic composites. Wood Fiber Sci 41:279–290

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirker G, Blodgett A, Arango R, Lebow P, Clausen C (2013) The role of extractives in naturally durable wood species Int Biodeterior. Biodegradation 82:53–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kityo P, Plumptre R (1997) The Uganda timber users’ Handbook: a guide to better timber use. Commonwealth Secretariat, Uganda

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukmandaru G (2011) Variability in the natural termite resistance of plantation teak wood and its relations with wood extractive content and color properties. J For Res 8:17–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukmandaru G (2017) Antifungal activities of certain components of teak wood extractives. Jurnal Ilmu dan Teknologi Kayu Tropis 11:11–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukmandaru G, Ogiyama K (2005) Bioactive compounds from ethyl acetate extract of teakwood (Tectona grandis Lf). In: Proceedings of the 6th international wood science symposium LIPI-JSPS core, Bali, pp 346–350

  • Lukmandaru G, Takahashi K (2008) Variation in the natural termite resistance of teak (Tectona grandis Linn fil) wood as a function of tree age. Ann Forest Sci 65:1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lupsea MO, Mathies H, Schoknecht U, Tiruta-Barna L, Schiopu L (2012) Leaching from new generation treated wood: a chemical approach. In: Environmental impact. Proceeding WIT transactions on ecology and the environment, vol 162. WIT Press, United Kingdom, pp 529–540

  • Mankowski M, Hassan B, Blodgett A, Kirker GT (2016a) Laboratory evaluations of woods from Pakistan and their extractives against Postia placenta and Trametes versicolor. In: Proceedings IRG annual meeting (ISSN 2000-8953), IRG/WP 16-10860, pp 1–10

  • Mankowski M, Boyd B, Hassan B, Kirker GT (2016b) GC-MS Characterizations of termiticidal heartwood extractives from wood species utilized in Pakistan. In: Proceedings IRG annual meeting (ISSN 2000-8953), IRG/WP 16-10857, pp 1–16

  • Mohareb A, Sirmah P, Desharnais L, Dumarçay S, Pétrissans M, Gérardin P (2010) Effect of extractives on conferred and natural durability of Cupressus lusitanica heartwood. Ann Forest Sci 67:504

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morimoto M, Fukumoto H, Hiratani M, Chavasiri W, Komai K (2006) Insect antifeedants, pterocarpans and pterocarpol, in heartwood of Pterocarpus macrocarpus Kruz. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 70:1864–1868

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ngee P-S, Tashiro A, Yoshimura T, Jaal Z, Lee C-Y (2004) Wood preference of selected Malaysian subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae). Sociobiol 43:535–550

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohmura W, Doi S, Aoyama M, Ohara S (2000) Antifeedant activity of flavonoids and related compounds against the subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. J Wood Sci 46:149–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira LS, Santana ALBD, Maranhao CA et al (2010) Natural resistance of five woods to Phanerochaete chrysosporium degradation. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 64:711–715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owoyemi J, Olaniran O (2014) Natural resistance of ten selected Nigerian wood species to subterranean termites attack. Int J Biol Sci 1:35–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Parveen R, Azmi MA, Tariq R, Mahmood S, Hijazi M, Mahmud S, Naqvi S (2010) Determination of antifungal activity of Cedrus deodara root oil and its compounds against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Pak J Bot 42:3645–3649

    Google Scholar 

  • Peralta RCG, Menezes EB, Carvalho AG, Aguiar-Menezes EdL (2004) Wood consumption rates of forest species by subterranean termites (Isoptera) under field conditions. Revista Árvore 28:283–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ragon KW, Nicholas DD, Schultz TP (2008) Termite-resistant heartwood: the effect of the non-biocidal antioxidant properties of the extractives (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 52:47–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasib KZ, Ashraf H, Afzal M (2014) Feeding preferences of Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) (Isoptera: Termitidae) on different commercial and non-commercial woods from Lahore, Pakistan, under laboratory and field conditions. Zool Ecol 24:369–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes-Chilpa R, Gomez-Garibay F, Moreno-Torres G, Jimenez-Estrada M, Quiroz-Vasquez R (1998) Flavonoids and isoflavonoids with antifungal properties from Platymiscium yucatanum heartwood. Holzforschung 52:459–462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roszaini K, Hale M, Salmiah U (2016) In-vitro decay resistance of 12 Malaysian broadleaf hardwood trees as a function of wood density and extractives compounds. J Trop For Sci 28:533–540

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheffer TC, Morrell JJ (1998) Natural durability of wood: a worldwide checklist of species, vol 22. College of Forestry, Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State University

  • Schultz TP, Nicholas DD (2002) Development of environmentally benign wood preservatives based on the combination of organic biocides with antioxidants and metal chelators. Phytochemistry 61:555–560

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz TP, Hubbard TF Jr, Jin L, Fisher TH, Nicholas DD (1990) Role of stilbenes in the natural durability of wood: fungicidal structure-activity relationships. Phytochemistry 29:1501–1507

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sumthong P, Romero-González RR, Verpoorte R (2008) Identification of anti-wood rot compounds in teak (Tectona grandis Lf) sawdust extract. J Wood Chem Technol. 28:247–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Syofuna A, Banana A, Nakabonge G (2012) Efficiency of natural wood extractives as wood preservatives against termite attack. Maderas Ciencia y tecnología 14:155–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tascioglu C, Yalcin M, de Troya T, Sivrikaya H (2012) Termiticidal properties of some wood and bark extracts used as wood preservatives. BioResources 7:2960–2969

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor AM, Gartner BL, Morrell JJ, Tsunoda K (2006) Effects of heartwood extractive fractions of Thuja plicata and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis on wood degradation by termites or fungi. J Wood Sci 52:147–153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thevenon M, Roussel C, Haluk J (2001) Possible durability transfer from non-durable wood species The study case of teak wood. In: Proceedings IRG annual meeting (ISSN 2000-8953), IRG/WP 01-10392, pp 20–25

  • Thulasidas P, Bhat K (2007) Chemical extractive compounds determining the brown-rot decay resistance of teak wood. Holz Roh-Werkst 65:121–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walker JC (2006) Primary wood processing: principles and practice. Springer Science & Business Media, Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto K, Hong L (1989) Location of extractives and decay resistance in some Malaysian hardwood species. J Trop For Sci 2:61–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeniocak M, Suleyman K (2018) Investigation leaching performance of wood materials coated with Cotinus coggygria extracts and liquid glass (SiO2) mixture. Wood Res 63:843–854

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaharin FBA (2013) Effect of extractives on wood density and natural durability of Tristaniopsis whiteana and T. beccaril (Myrtaceae). Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

  • Zhu BC, Henderson G, Sauer AM, Crowe W, Laine RA (2010) Structural requirements for repellency: norsesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoid derivatives of nootkatone against the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Pest Manag Sci 66:875–878

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This manuscript is part of B. Hassan’s PhD research. The authors wish to thank Craig Bell for preparation, handling and processing the wood samples. Dr. Hamid Borazjani (Mississippi State University) for the use of his laboratory and Soxhlet apparatus. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC), the USDA-FS International Program who granted fellowship to Babar Hassan to conduct research at USDA-FS Forest Products Laboratory and the Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Peshawar.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Babar Hassan

  2. USDA-FS, Forest Products Laboratory, Starkville, MS, USA

    Mark E. Mankowski

  3. USDA-FS, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI, USA

    Grant Kirker & Amy Bishell

  4. Termite Research Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Sohail Ahmed

Authors
  1. Babar Hassan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark E. Mankowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Grant Kirker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sohail Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Amy Bishell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Babar Hassan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hassan, B., Mankowski, M.E., Kirker, G. et al. Ex-situ performance of extracts from naturally durable heartwood species and their potential as wood preservatives. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 77, 869–878 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-019-01443-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-019-01443-6

Search

Navigation