Arnica Extract as a 100% Vegetal Wood Preservative Against Wood Decaying Basidiomycetes, Xylophagous Insects and Termites

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Abstract

Wood biodeterioration by wood-decaying fungi, termites and wood-boring insects remains a major limitation for the long-term use of wood and wood-based materials in construction and furniture applications. Although synthetic preservatives such as boron-based treatments are widely used, increasing concerns regarding human health, environmental impact and regulatory restrictions have driven the search for safer and more sustainable alternatives. In this study, a polyphenol-rich plant extract obtained from Arnica montana were evaluated as a fully plant-based wood-preservative formulation against a broad spectrum of xylophagous organisms, including wood-decaying basidiomycetes, subterranean termites and the house longhorn beetle Hylotrupes bajulus. Treated Scots pine sapwood and cellulose-based specimens were assessed using laboratory assays based on standardized procedures, including fungal growth monitoring, termite choice and no-choice tests, larval mortality evaluation and measurements of biological degradation. The formulations showed strong protective performance, including reduced fungal development, total protection of treated wood specimens against several termite species under the tested conditions, and high larval mortality against H. bajulus. The results further suggest that the efficacy of these formulations is associated with the penetration and retention of polyphenolic compounds within the lignocellulosic matrix. Based on the known biochemical properties of plant polyphenols, including protein complexation, enzyme inhibition, antioxidant activity and metal-chelating capacity, possible mechanisms involved in the inhibition of fungal and insect-mediated wood degradation are discussed. Overall, this work supports the potential of polyphenol-rich Arnica montana extract as sustainable, bio-based alternative for durable wood protection.

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