In the recent years, there has been an increasing concern regarding the safety of wood preservatives. Many research groups have examined the potential of essential oils as biocide based on their biological activity. This paper described the antitermitic and antifungal activity of twenty four essential oils from different plant species. The termicidal activity was carried out with a no-choice test with impregnated filter papers at several concentrations. Screening tests with mycelium of basidiomycete with different concentrations of essential oils were used to assess the fungicidal activity. The essential oils were less active against termites than fungi. Essential oil from savory was the most active and the threshold is under 1% while six essential oils were active against white and brown rot with a threshold under 0.1% (v/v). These results suggest essential oils may be active ingredients of interest for the development of wood preservatives.

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