Evaluation of rosewood extractives as potential source for termite control

Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora) is an extremely durable tropical timber species that has been widely used in the past in perfumery on account of its high proportion of essential oil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the extractives from rosewood as possible active ingredients for termite control. Some rosewood sawdust has been extracted using different solvents and methods. The extractives obtained, as well as commercial pure linalool known to be the major constituent of rosewood essential oils, have been used to perfonned accelerate termite tests (with Reticulitermes santonensis) in order to select the most efficient combination. From these first trials, methanol extracts were selected. Termite tests according to EN118 were then performed with these extracts and with pure linalool. The termites mortality and the protection of the treated pine sample increased with both the extractives and linalool concentration. A wood treatment with a linalool solution at 15% mim has shown a good preventive effect against termite attack, but the threshold has not been reached for the rosewood extractives at the same concentration. (Résumé d'auteur