Sitti Fatimah Mhd Ramle^1,a, Khairul Fahmi Ab Wahab^2,b and Nurul Akmar Che Zaudin^1,c  

¹Faculty of Bioengineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia.
²SM Sains Jeli , 17600 Jeli , Kelantan , Malaysia

^afatimah.m@umk.edu.my, ^bcikgufahmi@gmail.com, ^cakmar@umk.edu.my

Abstract. Wood decay caused by White-Rot and Brown-Rot fungi poses a significant challenge to the timber industry, particularly affecting materials like Oil Palm Trunk Veneers and Rubberwood. This study explores the antifungal properties of Cinnamomum porrectum extract and its mechanism of action against these destructive fungi. The extract was obtained through solvent extraction methods and assessed for its efficacy using bioassay techniques on both treated and untreated wood samples. The findings revealed that Cinnamomum porrectum extract demonstrated strong antifungal activity, significantly reducing fungal-induced decay in treated Oil Palm Trunk Veneers and Rubberwood samples. The antifungal mechanism is thought to involve the disruption of fungal cell wall integrity and interference with essential metabolic pathways. These results highlight the extract’s potential as a natural, environmentally friendly antifungal agent, offering an effective solution for enhancing the durability of timber, particularly in materials susceptible to fungal decay.In conclusion, Cinnamomum porrectum extract presents a promising avenue for the sustainable protection of wood in the timber industry, with practical applications in prolonging the lifespan of wood products and reducing reliance on synthetic chemical treatments.

Keywords: Cinnamomum porrectum, Antifungal properties, White-rot fungi, Brown-rot fungi, Wood decay, Oil Palm Trunk, Veneers Rubberwood, Solvent extraction, Bioassay techniques, Fungal cell wall, Metabolic pathways, Natural preservative, Environmentally friendly, Timber durability, Synthetic fungicides