Practical solutions to the biodeterioration dilemma: activity of Dittrichia viscosa extracts and its specialized metabolites on standard organism Raphidocelis subcapitata

Alessandro De Rosa, Marco Morelli, Marco Masi, Alessio Cimmino, Andrea Carpentieri, Gaia Marzia Silvestre, Antonino Pollio, Paola Cennamo

Abstract

Biodeterioration caused by microorganisms is among the most pressing challenges in the conservation of outdoor stone heritage. In the search for sustainable solutions, the application of plant-extracted bioactive compounds has been gaining increasing attention. This study investigates the biocidal potential of extracts from Dittrichia viscosa, a ruderal Mediterranean plant rich in antibiotic and allelopathic compounds. Crude extracts were obtained using solvents of increasing polarity and characterized via NMR and GC-MS to identify major bioactive constituents. Four sesquiterpenoids—α-costic acid and inuloxins A, B and C—were identified as the most promising in terms of biocidal activity and contextually isolated and tested on pure cultures of the green alga Raphidocelis subcapitata. Inuloxin A and C significantly reduced algal growth in a dose-responsive manner, while α-costic acid and inuloxin B showed no inhibitory effect. These findings confirm the biocidal effectiveness of these specialized metabolites and support their potential future application in the treatment of biological patinas.

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IMEKO-Metroarchaeo-2025-022.pdf

DOI

10.21014/tc26-2025.022

IMEKO TC

TC26 - Metrology for Cultural Heritage

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