We evaluated the leaf essential oil in whole or fractions of Dysphania ambrosioides with respect to their resistance to wood decay fungal activities in vitro of 4 fungi. The main ingredients with the greater anti-wood decay capability were also identified. Fresh leaves of D. ambrosioides were hydrodistillated in a Clevenger-type apparatus and the resulting oil characterized using GC-FID and GC-MS instruments. The essential oil was found to consist of α-terpinene (30.5%), p-cymene (17.3%), carvacrol (16.2%), and ascaridole (15.1%). The oil showed resistance to wood decay activity of Trametes versicolor, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Phaeolus schweinitzii, and Lenzites sulphureu. The oil had excellent resistance to wood decay fungal activities, and the active compounds were shown to be carvacrol and ascaridole.

In this study, we evaluated the anti-mildew effects of paper treated with essential oils of leaves, twigs, and their main constituents from Cinnamomum micranthum. The main ingredients with the greater anti-mildew effects on paper capability were also purified and identified. Fresh leaves and twigs of C. micranthum were hydrodistillated in a Clevenger-type apparatus, and the resulting oil characterized using GC-FID and GC-MS instruments. The leaf essential oil consisted principally of n-decanal (50.1%), ( E)-β-ocimene (7.9%), ( E)-nerolidol (6.5%), and ( E)-β-caryophyllene (3.8%), and the twig oil's main components were τ-cadinol (18.3%), ( E)-β-ocimene (16.4%), α-cadinol (13.6%), n-decanal (10.6%), and β-selinene (5.8%). Comparing the mildew resistance of the oils on paper exhibited that twig oil was the best anti-mildew activity; at 200 μg/cm2, the twig oil completely inhibited the growth of Aspergillus clavatus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Chaetonium globosum, Myrothecium verrucaria, and Penicillium citrinum. The twig oil was further divided into 8 fractions (TO1-TO8). TO4 fraction had moderate anti-mildew effects; at the concentration of 200 μg/cm2, all fungi strains were totally inhibited, except A niger, and Trichoderma viride, which were 83.5%, and 93.2% inhibited, respectively. The main ingredients of TO4 fraction were τ-cadinol, and α-cadinol, so we isolated and used the for anti-mildew effect tests; τ-cadinol, and α-cadinol showed moderate anti-mildew activities. Since C. micranthum twig essential oil, τ-cadinol, and α-cadinol were exhibited a great anti-mildew effects on paper, they are worth further investigations and utilization.

This study examined the chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of essential oils isolated from the leaves, twigs, and fruits of Neolitsea sericea var. aurata from Taiwan. The major compounds responsible for antimicrobial activity were isolated and identified. The leaf, twig, and fruit essential oils were obtained through hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus and were characterized through gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The major compounds were ( E)-β-ocimene (49.3%) and sericenine (31.6%) in the leaf oil; ( E)-β-ocimene (73.7%), α-cadinol (6.8%), and α-muurolol (4.0%) in the twig oil; and ( E)-β-ocimene (84.7%) in the fruit oil. The twig oil exhibited the strongest antibacterial and antifungal activities. We isolated α-cadinol and α-muurolol, the main components of NTO4 fraction, and used them in antimicrobial tests; the two compounds exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities. The twig essential oil contains α-cadinol and α-muurolol and exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities against food-borne pathogens; thus, they are worthy of further research and development.